Police were today continuing their search for a teacher feared kidnapped after her mother made an emotional appeal over her disappearance.

Jane Longhurst, 31, vanished after leaving the home in Brighton she shares with her partner just over a week ago.

Her mother Liz wept as she pleaded to her daughter: "Please contact someone. We just want you home."

Liz Longhurst, speaking at a press conference at Brighton police station, said: "Not only are we missing her but we are increasingly worried about what has happened to her."

Dabbing tears from her eyes, she said: "We are starting to fear the worst."

Her daughter, who teaches music at Uplands School for children with learning difficulties in Hollingdean, Brighton, disappeared from her flat in Shaftesbury Road, Brighton, on Friday last week.

Police, baffled by the disappearance, have expanded the hunt nationwide.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, heading the inquiry, said Miss Longhurst, 31, had friends and relations in Kent, Berkshire, Cardiff, Winchester, Cambridge, Staffordshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire.

He said: "This is now nationwide and we would appeal to anyone with information to come forward."

Mr Dennis said it was possible Miss Longhurst had been abducted.

He said: "She may have come to some harm."

Miss Longhurst's partner, Malcolm Sentance, 34 and an education welfare officer, said he kissed Miss Long-hurst goodbye as she lay in bed on the morning of the day she vanished.

He went to work and returned at 4pm to find her gone.

Mr Sentance held up his partner's instrument, a viola, saying music was her first love and she would never have left without the instrument.

The viola was hand-crafted by a man of 70 and it took six months to make.

He speculated Miss Longhurst might have been spotted "walking round in a daze" or may have struck up a conversation with someone about music.

He hoped the viola might jog memories of people who saw her.

He asked people: "Keep your eyes peeled for her."

Mr Sentance said everyone was "totally in distress". He said: "I have had to work with the police . . . I have had no time to grieve. When I have time on my own I will deal with it. But I'm trying to be positive.

"I have not heard she is dead or if she is alive . . . I am living in limbo and hoping to hear good news."

Miss Longhurst's sister, Sue Barnett, said: "This is an incredible time for us.

"It is difficult for us to remain optimistic as the days go on but that is what we are trying to do and we are pulling together as a family.

"We hope Jane has simply gone away of her own accord and there is nothing sinister.

"Jane, if you are out there, please call us."

Miss Longhurst's black leather Next purse is missing but there are no reports her credit cards have been used.

Also missing is her blue-grey Nokia mobile phone and her keys. Some items of clothing have also gone.

Mr Dennis made a personal appeal to Miss Longhurst: "Contact me personally and in confidence "And if anyone saw anything suspicious, however minor or small, it might fit into a big jigsaw and mean something important to us."

Anyone who finds the missing items or has information should call Operation Keen officers at Brighton police station on 0845 6070999.