Mother's agony over missing son

Dale Crole was planning to visit friends but never arrived

A mother has made a plea for her son to return home for Christmas after he went missing three months ago.

Susan Clark made an appeal for 18-year-old Dale Crole, who disappeared on 25 September, to get in touch.

Dale had been visiting his mother at her home in Porthcawl, south Wales when he told her he was planning to travel to Maesteg to visit friends.

He left the house at about 1300 BST and has not been since. Police said they need information about where he is.

More than 30 officers from South Wales Police are involved in searches for the teenager and a major crime incident room has been set up.

His mother Mrs Clark, said she and her family couldn't move on until they knew he was safe and well and appealed for him to get in touch.

She said: "When I last saw him, he was quite upbeat, and he was fine and happy and there was no problem.

"But there's been no contact at all.

"We just want him to know he is not in any trouble and that if he thinks he is it is nothing we can't sort out.

"None of us, me, my husband, his sisters, we can't move forward, until we know he is safe.

Susan Clark says her family misses her son Dale Crole

"He is such a big part out our lives and our family, it is like it is not a family without Dale.

"There must be someone who knows something - if only they could please come forward.

"He's my son and I love him. I just want him to come home," she added.

Det Ch Insp Stuart McKenzie, who is leading the inquiry, urged friends and acquaintances to come forward with any information about Mr Crole's whereabouts and stressed that he was not in any trouble with police.

"Dale left intending to visit the Oakwood estate in Maesteg," he said.

"It's thought he intended using the bus to Bridgend and the train to Maesteg.

"But he never arrived at the estate.

"He's been missing now for three months and this causes us grave concern."

DALE CROLE 5ft 9in tall slim brown eyes and brown hair Welsh accent Loop earring in left ear Wearing white hoodie, white baseball cap and grey jogging trousers

Police have searched the train line between Bridgend and Maesteg for clues and have also carried out searches of places Dale was known to visit.

"Dale has a large number of friends and is well liked in the community and we can't solve this alone," Det Ch Insp McKenzie said.

He said he suspected there were people in the community who know something about where Mr Crole was but were reluctant to come forward out in case they thought they would get him into trouble.

"Our prime objective is to find Dale safe and well and I ask them to come forward," he added.