A WOMAN has told of her sadness this Christmas following the disappearance of her partner.

Gillian Affleck, 50, went missing from her Patcham home on August 24.

But 300 police leads and more than 120 days later, her partner Martina Walton is no closer to finding her girlfriend of eight years.

Martina said Christmas this year will not be the same without the missing Legal and General worker.

She said: “It is going to be a very strange Christmas. Gill always loved Christmas and it was her favourite time of year.

“She enjoyed putting up the tree and getting presents. She just loved the whole atmosphere of Christmas.

“This would have been our fourth Christmas together on the trot, and in the new year we were looking forward to maybe getting married.”

Martina last spoke to Gill on the morning of August 24 as she made her way from Essex to Brighton.

But when she arrived home, Martina found a note from Gillian to say she had gone for a walk, which was not uncommon.

She said Gillian, who recently suffered a bout of depression, enjoyed walking and had been going on regular walks in Patcham Place and Horsdean recreation grounds to clear her head in the weeks before her disappearance.

Martina said she still hopes Gillian will return home. She added: “I cannot give up hope. If Gill is reading this I’d want to tell her just let someone know you are safe.

“You are always welcome to come home.

“Just let someone know where you are and that you are safe.

“And if anyone knows about her whereabouts, they should get in contact with the anonymously police or phone the Missing people helpline.”

Gill is 5ft 6in, of medium build and has shoulder-length brown hair. She has lived in Brighton since 2002, has links to her native Scotland.

She was last seen wearing a thin blue or grey three-quarter-length sleeve top, a grey stone effect Peter Storm waterproof jacket, brown ankle boots, a knitted grey scarf and carrying a grey Karrimor rucksack.