Outback ambush father in fresh appeal

Paul and Luciano Falconio are in Australia

The father of the Briton missing in the Australian outback has broken down in tears as he appealed for help in tracing his son.

Luciano Falconio was overcome with emotion as he held up a poster advertising an £89,000 reward offered to help catch the gunman believed to have shot his son Peter.

He was taking part in a press conference in Alice Springs as the hunt continued for his son.

The 28-year-old has been missing since he and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were ambushed by a gunman on a highway in the Northern Territory 13 days ago.

The couple were flagged down by the gunman

Speaking about the attack on his son, Mr Falconio said: "It shouldn't have happened to him."

Australian police have already confirmed that blood found near where Peter disappeared belonged to him.

Hopes high

Nevertheless the family told reporters that they were still hopeful that he would be found alive.

And they said they were confident that there would be positive news within days.

Mr Falconio and his son Paul flew out to Australia from their West Yorkshire more than a week ago.

Australian authorities are offering the reward for information leading to the gunman's arrest.

The Northern Territory government is also offering indemnity from prosecution to any accomplice willing to turn in the suspect.

Police said they had had more than 300 calls following a personal appeal by Miss Lees on Wednesday for help in the police inquiry.

Similar incident

Police also revealed they are investigating a similar incident in the area 18 months ago.

A man, matching the description Miss Lees has given police, stopped a motorist and told him sparks were coming out of the back of his car - the same comment made by the man who attacked the British couple.

The young couple stopped their camper van after a motorist flagged them down.

Moments later Miss Lees heard a gunshot after Mr Falconio got out of the van.

The man then pulled her from her vehicle, tied her up and threw her into the back of his van.

But she managed to escape and hide for almost six hours before being helped by a passing truck driver.