Friends, family and volunteers have set out to look for missing Pat Lamb, who disappeared on a night out nearly two weeks ago,

The search is taking place around Bluebell Hill where teams are scouring woods and parkland for any sign of the 28-year-old.

Helen Stockman, from Ashford, who volunteered to join the search, said: "I felt for the family so much that I've come down here today with my children to join in the search. It's Christmas Eve, and I wanted to show my support."

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It comes after a CCTV image was released of Pat Lamb, who went missing after a night out at Maidstone almost two weeks ago.

The grainy still shows him walking down High Street towards Pudding Lane just before midnight on Friday, December 12, just past Royal Star Arcade.

His whereabouts are now the focus of a major search involving police, Kent Search and Rescue, family, friends and even strangers.

An update on the Facebook page called for helpers to put up posters, particularly in the Chatham and Gillingham areas, and also the Swanley, Hextable and Orpington area.

But, in a separate posting, clairvoyants who had approached the family were respectfully urged to leave the family alone.

His girlfriend this week released an emotional video appealing for the 5ft 7ins broadcast engineer to get in touch.

"We can only hope for the best but fear the worst” — Tony Lamb

Natasha Morgan weeps throughout the minute-long video clip, posted on Sunday, as she begs him to make contact.

She pleads: “Pat, if you’re listening, I love you so much. Please come home to me.

“It doesn’t matter what’s happened or if you feel embarrassed or if you think you’ve done something wrong. It really doesn’t matter.

“You know I forgive everything anyway. I love you so much and I just need you safe.

“I need your help with everything. I need you in my life, I need you to look after me. Please let me look after you now. Please come home, please don’t do anything. I love you so much."

The 28-year-old has been staying in Maidstone since Mr Lamb's disappearance and has been searching for him every day.

Video: Girlfriend Natasha Morgan says they have not given up hope

On the Help find Patrick Lamb Facebook page, which now has nearly 24,000 'likes', Natasha said late yesterday: "Thank you to everyone for their help and support today.

"Please help me find him alive for Christmas so I can hold him in my arms."

Pat’s 65-year-old father Tony, from Greenhithe, has urged families out over Christmas to keep an eye out for his son.

He said: “Obviously it’s going to be a very harrowing time over the next few days.

“We have now taken time out from Maidstone and left the search down to the police search and rescue teams."

He stressed that the family would be returning to the town on Christmas Day if not earlier to resume the search.

He added: “My ultimate fear is that Pat has fallen into the river. We can only hope for the best but fear the worst.”

"Pat is known to have bought a Subway on Gabriels Hill, which suggests he was ready to go home."

Both appeals came as search & rescue teams drafted in an aircraft to help in their hunt for Pat, who disappeared after leaving Bar Chocolate in Market Buildings.

The plane traced routes Pat - who is one of six siblings - may have taken.

Specialist police divers had been brought in on Friday but made no discoveries.

At one point a tent was erected at the scene, near St Peter’s Bridge, after sonar equipment picked up something distinctive, but turned out to be an oil drum.

Volunteers combed the riverbank in the centre of Maidstone after setting up an incident unit at Lockmeadow over the weekend.

Teams also used a specialist search dog on Saturday.

Pat’s friends and family, from Greenhithe and Canterbury, staged a search on Friday night, a week after his disappearance.

Meeting at Muggleton Inn in the High Street, they hoped to speak to people who might have been out in Maidstone town centre on the night he went missing.

The family said on their Facebook page: “We continue to remain positive...Please bring Pat home for Christmas.”

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