"I am begging people to come forward", says mother of missing Natalie Jenkins as police launch murder probe

Cleveland Police are treating the disappearance of Teesside woman Natalie Jenkins as murder.

Ms Jenkins, 32, from Thornaby, was last seen in Middlesbrough on December 10.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dimelow said he believed Ms Jenkins had come to "serious harm."

Ms Jenkins' mother, Sylvia Jenkins, cried as she read a statement at a press conference in Middlesbrough.

Ms Jenkins, a drug user and a sex worker, has not been in touch with family or friends, which the police said was "highly unusual."

Her case is not being linked to that of Naheed Khan, also from Thornaby, who was missing and presumed murdered.

Cleveland Police released new CCTV of her walking along Parliament Road,Middlesbrough, around 7.55pm on December 10.

Mr Dimelow said Ms Jenkins may have been at her home in Thornaby, Teesside, the following day, although this was unconfirmed.

He said his team was looking through 1,000 hours of CCTV, have distributedposters and leaflets and spoken to hundreds of people.

Mr Dimelow said Ms Jenkins may have been at her home in Thornaby, Teesside, the following day, although this was unconfirmed.

He said his team was looking through 1,000 hours of CCTV, have distributedposters and leaflets and spoken to hundreds of people.

Mr Dimelow told the press conference:

He described Ms Jenkins as white, of slim build, 5ft 5in, with fair skin andstraight brown hair.

She had a tattoo saying "Swann" on her neck and "Swanny" on her wrist.