A DISTRAUGHT mum has made an emotional plea to her missing son to get in touch.

Karola McCormack is desperate to hear from her son Phillip, 29, who disappeared two weeks ago after watching two episodes of the TV series Missing.

Mrs McCormack said she had hardly eaten or slept since she returned to the family home in Lymington to find him gone.

Police have launched a major search for Phillip, who has not used his bank card since he vanished.

Mrs McCormack is clinging to the hope that her son is staying with a new friend and has chosen not to get in touch.

She said: "No body has been discovered. If he is out there l'm sure a dog walker would have found him by now."

In a message to her missing son she said: "We love and miss you very much. Let us know you are safe - that's all I care about."

Mrs McCormack, a 61-year-old widow, said Phillip disappeared the day after they watched two episodes of Missing.

Asked if there might be a connection she added: "I don't know. He doesn't show his emotions."

Phillip, who went to Hounsdown School and Brockenhurst College, worked as a night porter at the Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst until a few weeks ago, when he broke his shoulder in a motorbike accident.

His mother added: "He's very intelligent but is a very private person and finds social inter-action quiet difficult."

Det Insp Steve Spencer, heading the inquiry, added: "Phillip's disappearance is out of character, but there's nothing at this stage to indicate that anything bad has happened to him.

"He could be with someone who is unaware of all the concern surrounding his disappearance."