Stuart Gilson: Nationwide TV appeal, as new railings put up by river

THE search to find a missing Hull man has gone nationwide, with a television appeal.

Stuart Gilson's disappearance has featured on the ITV1 show This Morning, to more than 1.5 million viewers.

The 21-year-old, who vanished more than three weeks ago, was featured on the show yesterday – his mum's 51st birthday.

Gloria Hunniford told Stuart's story and discussed his disappearance with presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

Viewers were told the painter and decorator vanished on January 28 while on a night out with friends and was last seen walking over Drypool Bridge at 10.17pm.

Stuart's sister Kimberley Gilson, 24, of east Hull, said: "I watched it with mum. It was really hard for us to watch.

"In a way, it was relief to see it was on national TV, but it was upsetting for us.

"We just hope the appeal jogs someone's memory.

"The more people that know about Stuart the better."

Several members of the Missing Stuart Gilson Facebook group contacted the programme through the social networking site.

There are now almost 20,000 people signed up to Stuart's Facebook group and members continue to use it as a place to communicate about where to search.

Most of the physical searches are being carried out near the Drypool Bridge, where he was last seen.

Stuart had wandered off without telling his friends where he was going during a night out.

Police believe Stuart was on his way home to east Hull when he was captured on CCTV and chose to take a shortcut on to a path that runs alongside the River Hull at the other side of the bridge.

Most of the walkway is open to the River Hull, with no railings at the side close to the steps where it is believed Stuart walked.

Over the weekend new railings were erected by Hull City Council further along the stretch towards St Peter Street.

The council told the Mail the new railings were not connected to the disappearance of Stuart.

Graham Hall, assistant head of service, transport and asset management, said: "The railings have been installed on the Victoria Dock basin as part of our planned capital programme for this year after a number of risk assessments were carried out along the river front."

People are still searching for Stuart – 24 days after he went missing.

Volunteers who want to help are asked to search the area around Drypool Bridge.

Stuart was last seen wearing a grey Luke branded polo shirt with a large lion emblem, G Star jeans and black Fred Perry plimsolls with white laces.

He was carrying a wallet with a built-in bottle opener with the words "beer tokens" written on it.

Anybody with new information about his whereabouts should call police on 101, quoting log 374 of January 29.

• Update - March 10: Body found in River Humber believed to be that of missing Stuart Gilson

Man arrested over Stuart Gilson Facebook claims

Mum's agony over Stuart Gilson's disappearance

CCTV video of Stuart Gilson walking on to Drypool Bridge