Family plea over missing mother and sons

The stepfather of a woman who has gone missing with her two sons today made an emotional appeal for their safe return.

More than 70 police officers have been assigned to search for Louisa Vowles, 26, who is on medication for depression.

She collected her sons from school on Friday and then disappeared after saying that she was going shopping.

Terry Leather, a 42-year-old builder, today urged Ms Vowles to contact her family and let them know she was safe. He said: "Everyone wants her to come home and for the children to be safe.

"I wasn't her biological dad but she always called me Dad. She's quite a deep person, a clever girl and she has some close friends."

Ms Vowles left her home in Chignall Smealy, near Chelmsford, in a white Citroen with £200 in cash. A search revealed several items of her sons' clothing were missing from their bedroom.

Since her disappearance, Ms Vowles, who is four months pregnant, has made two "worrying" calls on her mobile phone to her boyfriend. Tim Andrews, 33, who has been with Ms Vowles for six months, has begged her to let him know where she is. He said: "I love you and want you to come home."

The boys' father, was also said to be devastated by her disappearance.

Ms Vowles who is 5ft 5ins, and has bleached blonde hair, was last seen wearing a black jacket, a beige skirt and knee-length boots.