DETECTIVES investigating the mysterious disappearance of a teenage boy are appealing for two men captured on CCTV cameras to come forward.Police believe the men, who were seen in the same area as Luke Durbin on the night he vanished, could have vital information that could help the inquiry.

By Danielle Nuttall

DETECTIVES investigating the mysterious disappearance of a teenage boy are appealing for two men captured on CCTV cameras to come forward.

Police believe the men, who were seen in the same area as Luke Durbin on the night he vanished, could have vital information that could help the inquiry.

Luke, 19, of Coronation Avenue in Hollesley, near Woodbridge, went missing after becoming separated from his friends on a night out in Zest nightclub, Ipswich, on Thursday, May 11.

CCTV footage showed that, after leaving Zest, Mr Durbin made his way to the Hawk taxi rank in Old Foundry Road, Ipswich, where he tried to get a taxi at about 3.40am.

At a special press conference yesterday, police revealed they were keen to trace two men seen on CCTV nearby in the Northgate Street area on Friday, May 12.

The first is seen walking outside Edwards public house, away from Northgate Street on Great Coleman Street at about 3.17am.

The second is seen walking up Northgate Street in the direction of Crown Street at 3.39am.

Police need to trace these people and anyone else who may have been in this area of Ipswich after 1am on Friday, May 12.

During yesterday's press conference, detectives played footage of Luke's last sighting in a bid to generate further leads from the public.

In it, the teenager is seen trying to negotiate a lift with taxi staff before approaching a customer to ask whether he could share his taxi.

Luke's visibly distressed mother Nicki also made another emotional appeal - a month after her son's disappearance - for people to come forward with information.

The mother-of-two said: “Everything is so out of character for Luke. He was really happy in his job. He had just bought a new motorbike. It just doesn't make any sense.”

She said that Luke would not just run off.

“He had his wages at work. If he was, he didn't have a passport and his whole month's wages were sitting at work.

“He just wanted to go home, as you can see on the CCTV. He was just trying to get home.

“We have put flyers up locally. A lady in America set up a website for Luke. It's just like he has vanished. None of it makes any sense.”

Police have conducted numerous enquiries since Luke's disappearance, including speaking to more than 100 people listed on the teenager's mobile phone. They have also searched the roadsides along the two key routes between Ipswich and Woodbridge.

But Detective Sergeant Ian Addison said yesterday they were no further forward in tracing his whereabouts.

“The purpose of today is to renew our appeal for information concerning the whereabouts of Luke Durbin,” he said.

“We have identified from stills, two men we would like to appeal to come forward who were seen walking in the area at the time.”

The detective said these men might have information that could provide the missing link to Luke's disappearance.

He also appealed for anyone using a burger bar and a kebab shop close to the taxi office after 1am on May 12 to contact police because they might have vital clues.

Anyone with information should call the duty sergeant at Woodbridge police station on 01473 613500 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.