THE girlfriend of a missing man yesterday issued an emotional plea for him to come home.

Civil servant Peter Critchlow, 25, from Markham Street, The Groves, York, went missing early on Saturday after a night out drinking with friends in the city.

His girlfriend of two years, Dawn Harrison, has pleaded for him to contact her, saying that it was totally out of character for him to go missing.

Police launched a full-scale search for him on Monday as fears grew for his safety.

Divers have scoured the River Foss and distributed leaflets in and around The Groves area, but so far there has been no sign of him.

Ms Harrison, 24, was visiting family in Sheffield when Mr Critchlow disappeared after going to the Old White Swan, on Goodramgate, and Willow, a Chinese restaurant, in Coney Street.

In the hours leading to his disappearance, Ms Harrison said she received three unusual text messages, which may not have been meant for her. One said "Where are you?", another was blank and another, at 4pm, after which Peter's phone cut off, said "In Willow. Come alone".

"I'm missing him terribly," said Dawn. "I'm really worried about him falling in the river." She said her boyfriend was not depressed before he vanished. "He was quite cheerful when I last saw him on Wednesday. We arranged to meet on Sunday afternoon. This is so out of character," she said.