"HE MADE me a promise," says Cynthia Gilkes of her son, John Wright, who she has not seen in more than ten years: "He said that if anything happened to my partner, he would come home to me."

John left his family's Birmingham home because of the behaviour of his mother's partner, who died last month.

His mother was told that he had set off for Blackpool, aged just 17, and she now wants to get in touch and let him know that he can return home.

"John lived with us for a while when he was 17," said a tearful Cynthia last week: "He didn't get on with my partner, who was always drinking and shouting at him.

"I heard one day that he had gone into town.

"I went after him and said 'look son, come home.

"He said 'it isn't you mum, it's him.

"And he made me a promise. He said he would come home if anything ever happened to him.

"I can't get in touch with him any other way. I just want to get in touch with him so that I can tell him it is alright to come home. It is ten years since I last saw him - all I know is that he went to Blackpool."

John is said to be around 7ft tall, dark hair and brown eyes.

If John wants to get in touch with his mother again, he should contact the Citizen newsdesk on:

(01253) 292005 and we will be able to pass on his mother's contact details.