David Ruff, 36, was last seen on Friday 25th January when his dad dropped him off outside the Cannon pub on Carlton Road, Worksop, to meet an unknown friend.

And now, 97 days after he was last seen, David's mum Denise Shaw, 55, has spoken out in the hope that someone will come forward to let her know her son is safe.

"He didn't say anything to anyone about where he was going. I have no idea if he is safe - in the back of my mind I wonder if someone has done something to him," said Ms Shaw.

David had been living above the Norfolk Arms pub on Watson Road in Worksop when he disappeared. Mrs Shaw said that David, who went to a special school as a child, can often be 'gullible and trusting' around others.

And he has gone missing in the past. In 1992, he left home and went to Leicester and told no-one of his whereabouts. "But that was only for a month - he has never been gone this long and we are all starting to really worry about him. I just hope he is safe," said Ms Shaw.

"Sometimes if he meets someone and they move away, he will go to visit them. Or if he feels upset, he will go off without telling us. But he always comes back soon after with his tail between his legs."

The family are currently filling out forms that will allow the police to monitor David's bank card usage. If he has used any of his cards, police can then hopefully track him down.

And David's family have tried all his usual haunts. "He loves to play pool, so we went around all the local pubs that were holding pool tournaments, hoping he would turn up, but he was nowhere to be seen," said Ms Shaw.

David's sister Donna Bonsall said that she, along with the rest of the family, are growing frantic with worry because they have no idea what has happened to him.

"He took no clothes with him and he would not have had a lot of money on him. Something must have happened for him to disappear," said Mrs Bonsall.

David is described as a white man, around 5ft 11inches tall, of stocky build with blue eyes. He has thick blonde hair and is described as having a boyish face and does not look his age.

"Anyone with any information, please come forward to the police to let us know he is safe, that is all I want to know," said Ms Shaw. "We are not going to force him to come back. It has been a long time and everyone is missing him."

Notts Police is appealing for anyone who has seen David or has any information to get in touch. "David often visits local pubs and betting shops and somebody may have seen him in one of these. If so, the police and his family would like to know that David is safe and well," said Sgt Steve Allan of Worksop Police.

Call Worksop Police Station on 01909 500999 with information.