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Friday, 5 April, 2002, 13:53 GMT 14:53 UK

Family heartbreak for all to see


Sarah Benford and Daniel Nolan are both featured on the lorries
Families are hoping to see Sarah and Daniel again
Sarah Benford disappeared from her care home in Northampton two years ago at the age of 14.

Iceland supermarkets put her photo on milk cartons and police followed up 100 possible sightings, but without success.

Now Sarah is one of 10 missing children whose picture has been posted on lorries belonging to Ford Motors.

Each of the 40-feet lorries has a large photo of a child on either side of the trailer, with the phone number for the National Missing Persons Hotline (NMPH).

Nine of the lorries left their depots on Friday - the tenth, depicting Surrey schoolgirl Amanda Dowler, will go out on the road next week.

Frank Coyne, Ford's Transport Manager, said: "We are delighted to be associated with the National Missing Persons Helpline.

"Ford's funding of these advertisements on its trailers, which travel the length and breadth of the UK, will publicise individual cases and hopefully help to reunite missing people with their families."

'Reunite families'

Sophie Woodforde, spokesperson for NMPH said: "We are very excited that Ford are supporting us and helping us in the search for missing persons.

"An estimated 210,000 people are reported missing every year and Ford's help in the search for some of those people is invaluable."


Missing children featured on lorries
Damien Nettles - Isle of Wight
Lola Shenkoya - London
Ruth Wilson - Dorking
Matthew O'Reilly - Barnstable
Elizabeth Chau - London
Sarah Benford - Kettering
Dan Nolan - Hamble
Lee Boxell - Sutton
Philip Fudge - Hull
Amanda Dowler - Walton

Of that number, over half are under the age of 18, but NMPH has a 70% success rate in resolving cases sent to them.

Dan Nolan, 15, went missing from Hamble in Southampton in January 2002.

He vanished on New Year's Day after going fishing in Hamble.

As with the search for Sarah Benford, massive publicity has surrounded the hunt for Dan including an appeal at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.

His fishing equipment was later found on a jetty but there was nothing to suggest he fell into the river.

A private detective has joined the search and an auction raised £5,000 towards a reward fund.

The families of Sarah Benford, Dan Nolan, and the other seven missing children hope the high-visibility campaign will bring their suffering to an end.


Related to this story:
Amanda appeal takes to the road (05 Apr 02 | England) Friends need to 'keep an eye out' (05 Feb 02 | England) Stadium appeal for missing son (09 Jan 02 | England) Parents appeal for missing son (03 Jan 02 | England) Fears for missing teenager (02 Jan 02 | England)


Internet links: National Missing Persons Hotline | Hampshire Police | Northamptonshire Police | Ford Motor Company | UK Missing Kids |
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