Officers investigating the disappearance of teenager Luke Durbin say they have received two pieces of information of “real interest” following a national TV appeal.

East Anglian Daily Times: Nicki Durbin makes an appeal for information which might help find her missing son Luke on the BBC's Crimewatch programmeNicki Durbin makes an appeal for information which might help find her missing son Luke on the BBC's Crimewatch programme (Image: Archant)

Three weeks ago Detective Superintendent John Brocklebank from the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team appeared live on BBC Crimewatch where he urged people to come forward with information about the disapperance of Luke Durbin, who was last seen in May 2006.

During the programme viewers also saw Luke’s mother, Nicki Durbin, make an impassioned plea for anyone who knew anything about Luke’s disappearance to make contact so she could have some form of closure.

Following the Crimewatch programme and subsequent local follow up publicity detectives have received a number of calls and pieces of information, two of which they consider to be of particular interest. This information is now being followed up on.

Luke, 19 and from Hollesley near Woodbridge, disappeared after a night out with friends in Ipswich on the night of Thursday, May 11, 2006, through to the early hours of Friday May 12.

Luke had spent part of the evening in Zest nightclub in Princes Street, Ipswich, before trying to make his way home.

Officers plotted Luke’s route through Ipswich town centre towards Hawk Express taxi office in Old Foundry Road.

Luke attempted to get a lift home but didn’t have any money and was declined when he asked to set up an account.

The last sighting of Luke was when he was seen on CCTV walking across Dogs Head Street in Ipswich in the direction of the bus station at 4am on Friday, May 12.

Through further enquiries, two separate people have said that they saw Luke in Woodbridge in a dark blue Renault Megane or BMW car being driven by a black man; this was between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, May 13, near to the entrance to the Turban Centre car park on Quay Side, Woodbridge.

Detective Superintendent John Brocklebank said: “It is encouraging that a number of people have come forward with information following the Crimewatch and subsequent local media appeals. There are two pieces of information that have come through that are of a real interest to us and we are now following up on this information to see if it can assist us with this investigation.

“I am convinced someone locally knows what has happened to Luke and I can completely understand that some people may feel a reluctance to come forward. I would like to reassure those people that we can protect them if necessary and they can come forward in complete confidence to speak to an officer on the case.

“Luke is never far from the minds of his family, particularly his mother, Nicki, who is desperate for answers and at this time of year it becomes even more poignant.

“I am determined to find out what has happened to Luke. My team and I will follow up on every piece of information that comes our way in order to find the answers we need.”

Anyone with information into Luke Durbin’s disappearance is asked to call the Incident Room at Suffolk Police Major Investigation Team on 01473 668999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.