Mother's tearful appeal to her missing son

Gavin Fern, 30, was last seen on 20 November, when he was captured on CCTV at Buchanan Street bus station in Glasgow.

The salesman for computer firm Hewlett-Packard was due to travel to London for a three-day training course starting on 22 November, but did not turn up.

He left his mobile phone and laptop in his flat in Battlefield in Glasgow.

Speaking yesterday at Cathcart police station, Sandra Fern, 59, said: "I believe Gavin's out there. I believe my son's out there. I cannot believe, after all this time, that somebody, somewhere has not seen something or might even know where he is and thinks they are being loyal."

She added: "There's no-one going to be angry. We just love and care about you so much and we just want you home for Christmas."

She said she last spoke to her son on 4 September and the last text she received was on 7 November. "I texted him a couple of times after that and never got a reply, but that wasn't unusual for Gavin because he was always so busy or involved in work," she added.

A Facebook page has been set up to help find Mr Fern, who is said to suffer from severe headaches, for which he sometimes takes medication.

He does not have a valid passport and has a driving licence, but does not have a car. He withdrew 60 from a cash machine at Central Station on the day of his last known sighting.

Police forces across the UK have been informed of Mr Fern's disappearance.