Danielle's mother tells of daily anguish

Danielle's mother first made an appeal two weeks ago

The mother of missing Essex schoolgirl Danielle Jones has renewed her plea to the public for information about her daughter.

Linda Jones, 41, has also been describing the daily anguish faced by the family since the 15-year-old's disappearance almost four weeks ago.

She is shy, not streetwise, she doesn't hang around the streets, she never goes anywhere without us knowing where she is

Linda Jones

In an open letter sent out by Essex police, Mrs Jones, of East Tilbury writes: "I can't begin to explain the emotions we are going through at this time. I do not think such words exist, heartbreak and devastation do not touch such a situation."

There has been no sign of the teenager since she left home to catch the school bus on 18 June.

Mrs Jones said she, and people who know her daughter, do not believe Danielle has run away.

"She is shy, not streetwise, she doesn't hang around the streets, she never goes anywhere without us knowing where she is, she will even leave me a note if she's popping next door while I'm out."

Police searches

Mrs Jones said she and Danielle's father, Tony, 40, only have a few hours' sleep at night.

She said she wakes up feeling a knife stabbing her in the stomach when the reality hits her.

Police issued this photo of Danielle

She continued: "The knife twists again and the knot in my stomach becomes so tight that it makes me sit up, tears in my eyes, gagging as though I can't breathe, I get up as I have no choice but to face the day ahead."

Extensive police searches aided by hundreds of volunteers and specialist diving teams have failed to uncover any trace of the teenager.

Police revealed this week that Danielle was seen by three boys making a sudden about-turn while walking to the bus stop that day.

Family's torment

The disappearance is making Danielle's brother Ryan withdrawn, while her younger brother Mitchell, is "slightly better", said Mrs Jones.

She wrote: "We want her home, we want our family complete again, to be able to see her playing in the garden with her two baby rabbits that she adores, to hear her singing to her music in her bedroom, to be able to trip over her shoes and school bag she kicks off in the hallway as she comes home from school."

We want her home, we want our family complete again

Linda Jones

Mrs Jones finishes the letter: "So we are pleading with the hearts of every single person out there to please, please go to the police with anything you might think is remotely relevant to trace the daughter we love so devotedly."

The BBC's Crimewatch programme is due to stage a reconstruction of Danielle's journey on Monday 16 July.