Stories of the missing loved ones

The families of missing people are calling on the government to fund a group to provide emotional and practical support. Here are the stories of some of their missing loved-ones.

LUKE DURBIN, 19, SUFFOLK

Luke had 'everything going for him', his mum said.

Luke has been missing since the early hours of Friday 12 May 2006 following a night out with friends at a nightclub in Ipswich.

He was last seen on CCTV walking towards a bus stop at 0400 GMT.

Despite unconfirmed sightings and extensive searches, Luke is still missing.

His mum, Nicki, said: "That night my family sat in our kitchen laughing. My son literally walked out of the house laughing, excited about meeting with up with his friends for a boys' night out. That was the last time my daughter and I saw him.

"We were just a normal family, nothing different about us. We were just trying to get on in life."

STEVE COOK, 20, CHESHIRE

Steve's family say they will never give up hope

Steve was on the first night of a holiday with friends in Malia, Crete, when he disappeared on 31 August, 2005.

He became separated from a friend and was last seen walking away from the hotel where he was staying.

Members of his family flew to Crete to join local police in their search, but he has not been found.

Steve, a Liverpool fan, was a student at Liverpool University.

His dad, Norman, said: "I wish I'd said goodbye, gave him a big hug and told him how much I loved him and how I always had done. How I always will."

DAMIEN NETTLES, 16, ISLE OF WIGHT

An age progression of how Damien might look now has been produced

Damien disappeared after a night out with friends in Cowes on 2 November 1996.

He was last seen on CCTV walking along the High Street at 0020 GMT after buying chips.

His parents believe he was abducted by a group of men seen on CCTV in the chip shop.

Police say it is possible he fell into the sea, but the investigation has never closed.

His Mum, Valerie, said: "Damien was a sweet natured boy, who loved his family, he made us laugh, he was gentle and caring and very funny. A light went out in our lives when he went missing."

EDDIE GIBSON, 20, BRIGHTON

Eddie's mum, Jo, says more support is needed for families

Eddie Gibson went missing while travelling in Cambodia.

He was last heard from on 24 October 2004 when he sent an email to his parents from Phnom Penh, saying he was planning to fly home from Bangkok.

When they went to meet him at the airport he was not there, and he has not been seen or heard from since.

While it is possible he chose to disappear, it's feared he may have fallen foul of armed gangs in Cambodia.

Eddie was three weeks into a course at Leeds University last year when he decided to leave to travel in Asia.

KATRICE LEE, 2, GERMANY

Katrice vanished after running out of sight for a moment

Katrice disappeared from a supermarket in Germany on her second birthday in 1981.

Her father was posted to Germany while serving in the Army, and was shopping with his wife and daughter when she vanished.

They had taken her to the Naafi shop on an Army base at Paderborn, near Hanover, to buy food for her birthday party.

She ran out of sight for a moment and was never seen again.

Her family have never lost hope that she may be found.

Her sister, Natasha, said: "I am heartbroken and devastated that I don't have my baby sister who I am so very proud of."

If you have any information on these missing people or any other case, call the Missing People helpline on 0500 700 700