ONE year after the disappearance of Murray Thompson, his heartbroken parents have made another appeal for information about their missing son.

Murray (pictured) of St Peter’s Street, St Albans, was 34 years old when he disappeared on April 20 last year and detectives from the Beds and Herts Major Crime Unit have been carrying out a murder investigation which has centred on the Watford area and particularly a flat in St Albans Road, which was the last place he was believed to have visited before he vanished.

His distinctive Gil-Lec van was seen in St Albans Road/Leavesden Road close to the time he went missing and was found in Robin Hood Drive in Bushey a fortnight later.

Murray’s parents Geraldine Woodstock and Tony Thompson described April 20 as the darkest day of their lives and said it was exactly a year ago that he disappeared “off the face of the earth”.

In a statement they went on: “Despite continuous police investigations we are no nearer to discovering either what happened to him on that day or where he is now. Many previous appeals have been made by us in the press and on local radio including the offer of a �5,000 reward for information.

“Please is there anyone out there who can come forward with any information to help us come to terms with whatever has happened to our son?”

To mark the anniversary, police cars in St Albans, Watford and Hemel Hempstead will be carrying appeal posters with a photo of Murray and publicising the �5,000 reward.

Det Insp Jerome Kent from the major crime unit said: “I cannot imagine the pain Murray’s family are going through at this time and I know there is a lot of public support with many people keen to find out what has happened to Murray.

“This is still a very active investigation and our main thrust is trying to locate Murray so his family can give him a proper funeral and lay him to rest.”

Two men are currently on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of murder and a man from Watford has been charged with perverting the course of justice, preventing a lawful burial and three counts of producing cannabis. He has been remanded in custody.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the incident room on 01707 355959 or Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555111.