A DISTRAUGHT mother has spoken of her grief at not knowing what might have happened to her son who went missing nine years ago.

Jennifer Mail last saw her son Peter at their home in Southborough Lane, Bromley at around 8am on April 9, 2001.

He called her two days later saying he was in Eastbourne and he was going walking on the Downs.

She says her son, who was 27 at the time, had taken a one-man tent, a rucksack, a bank card, a travel pass and around £30 in cash.

Mrs Mail, who has since moved to Station Road, Shortlands, says he seemed to be in good spirits but since then she has heard nothing from her son.

The 66-year-old said: "It's the uncertainty of not knowing what might have happened which is so awful.

"It's with us all the time. On the one hand you think nothing's been found at all, surely if he had had any accident they would have found him or some of his belongings. On the other hand surely he would have got in touch.

"This is what it's like. You just go round in circles, maybe this, maybe that and in the end you're in a complete maze.

"All we want to know is that he's okay and happy and if he's not then perhaps we can help."

At the time he went missing, Peter, who is now 37, was described as 6ft tall, thin with brown eyes and short black hair.

He is ataxic, meaning he has problems co-ordinating his muscles, and walks with a limp because of a stroke he suffered when he was 19.

Anyone with any information about Mr Mail should call Bromley police's missing persons unit on 020 8284 8766 or Missing People on 0500 700700.