Mother of missing schoolboy ‘desperate’ for his return after learning he was chatting to stranger night before he vanished

THE PARENTS of a missing grammar schoolboy say his Facebook account was active the night before he vanished and he may have been in contact with an unknown person

Arthur Heeler-Frood disappeared after leaving home as normal to cycle the seven miles to school on September 6.

His parents Caroline and Jeremy have made tearful public appeals for him to get in touch but without success.

The couple released a letter which their son left behind which tells them not to try to find him and he promises to return within a year.

Caroline told the : "I just feel so desperate.

"In the morning I have to put the radio on as soon as I wake up to stop his disappearance going round and round in my head.

"I try to do something, anything, to keep busy.

"Stop thinking about the worst. But of course you do think.

"The thing that worries me more than anything is the idea of him struggling somewhere and we can't do anything."

Before he disappeared, Arthur has been reading George Orwell's Down and Out In Paris and London and was also a fan of the Jason Bourne movies where Matt Damon plays a character who takes on a new identity.

The night before he left home, Arthur was on his Facebook account and may have been in contact with an unknown person, a clue which Caroline believes could be the key to finding her son.

Arthur's clothing and bike were found as he described but there has been no sightings of him.

He has been described as 5ft 4in tall with a slight build and short light brown hair.

Detective Constable Mark Boon, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "Arthur left a detailed note expressing in his wishes to travel and his reasons, and at this time we are asking anyone who has seen him to get in touch.

"Arthur's hair clippers are missing from his room indicating that he may now have considerably shorter hair, possibly shaven.

"I would also like to stress that Arthur is not in trouble and we are desperate to hear from him to know that he is okay.

"When he was last seen he was wearing his school uniform and carrying a black rucksack, but is now thought to be wearing blue jeans and a black hoody."

Arthur had just started his A Levels at Colyton Grammar school in Devon.

The school is a state-funded, co-educational grammar rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in three successive reports.

Headteacher, Tim Harris, said: "We are helping the police in the search for Arthur.

"He is a bright, popular and sociable boy who has just got outstanding GCSE results this summer and has just started his A-levels.

"We urge Arthur to make contact with his family to let them know he is safe and well."

Call 101 with information.

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