A LEYLAND father this week told the Citizen he believes his daughter is dead, seven weeks after she vanished in Scotland.

Tearful Hector McInnes, of Fossdale Moss, has been anxiously waiting for the telephone call which will tell him exactly what has happened to his 33-year-old daughter, Arlene Fraser.

Mum-of-two Arlene disappeared from Elgin, near Aberdeen, on April 28.

But, despite the full attention of the Grampian Police Force, Hector still doesn't know what has happened to her, leaving him with no other option than to assume the worst.

Fighting back his emotions, Hector, 58, who works for British Aerospace in Samlesbury, told the Citizen: "It has dawned on me today that the likelihood of me seeing her again is diminishing by the hour.

"I am 80 per cent certain she is dead, and the other 20 per cent is just a hope that she may survive.

"There is just no explanation for what has happened. She just would not leave and not tell anyone."

Since his daughter's disappearance, Hector has made it a priority to ensure his grandchildren, Jamie,ten, and Natalie, five, are shown all the love and affection they need while their mother is 'away.'

But when the youngsters visited him last month, Mr McInnes struggled to conceal the heartbreak he, and his family, were feeling.

He added: "The worst thing is that I am so far away. I just have to sit and wait, but the silence here can be deafening."

Hector's main worry is that Arlene's disappearance could have something to do with a mystery arson attack on her car three weeks before she disappeared.

The aeroplane fitter has travelled up to Scotland to help in the hunt for his daughter on several occasions.

Arlene was last spotted in Elgin, on the banks of the Moray, on April 28.

Her husband Nat had been charged with attempted murder before she vanished.

A £20,000 reward has been offered for information.

A spokesman for Grampian Police said: "We do fear her disappearance is not voluntary."

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