New clues in hunt for missing Shropshire man Daniel Hodgin
New clues emerged today of the last known moments of missing Daniel Hodgin – as his family spoke of their anguish.
Police revealed CCTV coverage has been found of him falling over and striking his head shortly after he left the Buttermarket nightclub in Shrewsbury in the early hours of Sunday.
Officers say that Daniel, from Madeley, Telford, may have also attracted attention from fellow clubbers when he bought a 1.5 litre bottle of Champagne.
Police today made a fresh appeal for information about the 20-year-old.
It is believed Daniel's grey iPhone 6 could also hold information as to his whereabouts.
He used his mobile to call his mother at about 5.30am when he told her he did not know where he was and he was going to walk home.
New pictures of Daniel posing happily with his family were released today as fears grow for his welfare.
His distraught family made an emotional appeal for help, with his mother Lorraine Firmstone saying: "Words can't describe how much we miss him."
Detectives say anyone who saw Daniel fall backwards over temporary barriers and into a wall when he went to smoke outside the Buttermarket on Howard Street could have information about where he went afterwards.
They also want to speak to a cyclist who passed him at about 5.50am in Dorset Street.
Officers will be in Shrewsbury town centre and the Buttermarket tonight and tomorrow night to speak to pub and club goers who may remember seeing Daniel. And river search teams will be scouring the Severn as far as Atcham over the weekend.
Daniel is white, about 5ft 9ins, with short spiked brown hair and stubble.
He was last seen wearing a grey Police polo shirt, dark blue jeans and black boots.
Chief Inspector Harding added: "We are stepping up the search for Daniel and are looking for his mobile phone and other possessions."
Daniel's mother was the last person to speak to him before he disappeared.
He left the Buttermarket at about 3.30am on Sunday and the last call to his mother was two hours later.
Ms Firmstone drove into Shrewsbury to search for her son but when she could not find him she called the police.
She said: "I had a conversation with him but his battery was going. He was a bit frustrated because he didn't know where he was.
"He said he was in some kind of industrial estate. He said he could see a Mini and a white wall. I just got dressed and went out to find him.
"I thought he would be walking back the Broseley way. But from CCTV it looks like he was still near the Buttermarket."
She added: "We are devastated as any parent would be who did not know where their son was. As a family we have been in and around Shrewsbury searching day and night."
Dennis Hodgin, Daniel's father, said he had searched every route his son could have taken on foot from Shrewsbury to Telford.
Dozens of family, friends and members of the public are out trawling the banks of the River Severn to try to find Daniel and are appealing for people to meet up at The Buttermarket at 10am tomorrow to help with the search.
"Every moment going past is precious," said Mr Hodgin, 40. "It's important that people go out there and help us."
The former pupil of Thomas Telford School left at 16 to work for the family business, Telford Plastics on Halesfield.
"He does really well at work," said Mr Hodgin. "He's going to run our business. He's got a really good career ahead of him."
Ms Firmstone said her son was "not the average 20-year-old". "He's been going to the Three Furnaces pub and he told me they've started calling him grandad because he looks older than he is.
"He knows a lot of people but he keeps a close circle of friends. He's really laid back. His teachers used to say he's so laid back he could have fallen off the back of a chair. But he's always been very clever.
"He's quite soft and kind-hearted. He's been saving for an Audi for the last two years."
CCTV footage shows Daniel passing the Dana prison at about 5am and half an hour later he can be seen on Dorset Street.
A cyclist passed by in the same direction at about 5.50am with lights on their bike and police are keen to speak to them in case they saw Daniel.
Officers will be at the Buttermarket in Shrewsbury tonight and tomorrow evening in the hope that regulars may remember seeing Daniel.
And as police teams scour the area they have appealed for people to look out for Daniel's mobile phone and personal possessions.
Anyone who believes they may have seen Daniel or who has any information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident 258 of November 23.
