The partner of a missing special needs teacher yesterday pleaded for help, saying: "I love her very much and miss her desperately."

Malcolm Sentance, 34, fears Jane Longhurst, who was last seen on Friday, may have been abducted. Police are baffled by her disappearance.

The church-going couple have been together four years and Mr Sentance said he did not believe his 31-year-old partner would have gone off of her own accord.

He said: "I am extremely worried. This is so totally out of character.

"Jane is a professional, a musician and a school teacher who loves the children. We had no arguments before she disappeared, she has no medical condition or history of depression.

"You can't help it but abduction is something that runs through your mind. Something is missing here.

"She is somewhere where she is unable to call - maybe lying in a field or someone's house."

Miss Longhurst vanished from her home five days ago, just over a week before she was due to perform in a church concert.

Her mother Liz Longhurst, from Reading, said: "I am very worried and upset. Please Jane, let us know you are safe."

Colleagues and children at the school where Miss Longhurst teaches music and English are also concerned.

Paul Atkins, headteacher of Uplands School for children with learning difficulties in Lynchet Close, Hollingdean, Brighton, said: "We were all shocked when we heard the news. There was nothing to suggest something was wrong."

"Jane is highly respected, very well liked, hard working and conscientious."

Mr Atkins said staff were hoping not to upset the school's pupils, aged 11 to 16, but they would now have to be told.

Miss Longhurst disappeared from her home in Shaftesbury Road, Brighton.

Mr Sentance, an education welfare officer, said: "Jane was on a day off. I came home at 4pm and she was not there.

"There was no phone call from her and she is not like that. She calls every day. By 8pm I was getting very concerned. I called the police at 1am."

Mr Sentance earlier telephoned Miss Longhurst's mother to see if she was with her. Mrs Longhurst said she had no idea why her daughter had gone.

She said: "Jane has taken nothing with her and the nights are very cold."