A 16-YEAR-OLD boy has been missing for almost a month.
Owen Harding has not been seen by his mother since he left his Saltdean home on March 26.
He disappeared after telling his mum he was going to watch the sunset shortly after 6pm.
Police forces have carried out extensive searches of the surrounding area and a campaign aiming to find him has been shared thousands of times on social media.
But Owen’s whereabouts remains unknown.
His girlfriend Meg Rose believes the 16-year-old may have attempted to walk 280 miles to see her at her home in York.
But his mother, Stella Harding, said friends and family’s “emotional state has deteriorated over the last few weeks”.
She said: “It is very unlike Owen to go missing and to not be in contact with friends, family or his girlfriend.
“Clearly, it is a really difficult time at the moment and we’re all desperately worried, especially since this is so out of character.
“We need to be open to investigating all avenues at this critical time, when the clock is ticking and Owen still hasn’t been found.”
Owen is 6ft tall with short dark brown hair.
He normally wears white trainers, tracksuit trousers and a dark hoodie.
If you have information about Owen’s whereabouts, report it to Sussex Police immediately either online or call 101, quoting Operation Chartwell. If you see Owen dial 999.
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