A close friend of missing Shropshire mum Mandy Franks today said she believed the 40-year-old would never have deliberately left her partner and son.

Rachel Durrant, who was Miss Franks’ neighbour when she lived in Brookside, Telford, said she knew her friend was “in love” with her partner Jody Evans.

Her comments come as more than 1,000 people signed up to a social networking site support group, set up to find Miss Franks, formerly Mrs Rowland.

Miss Durrant, 36, who now lives in Bournemouth, said the first she knew of her friend’s disappearance was in the national newspapers on Sunday.

Miss Franks was last seen in the car park opposite the Montgomery Towers bar in Shrewsbury in the early hours of October 5.

Miss Durrant said she was introduced to Miss Franks’ partner Jody Evans when they first got together and realised they were in love.

“I know Mandy – I know she wouldn’t leave her man Jody. Also her son Louie – if anything she would make contact with him.” 

“We used to have a laugh together and now this has happened,” she said. 

“It’s just so strange – it worries you to think about what has happened.

“I’ve been clubbing with her, my children know her and then you start to wonder if something has happened.

“I’m hoping she just went off somewhere.”

The Facebook website carries a message from Nicola Rowland. It says: “If you remember seeing Mandy on the night of the 4th of October or anytime after or if you have any information regarding Mandy’s whereabouts, phone police on 08457 444888.”