THE family of a woman who has been missing for seven years has made a direct appeal to her suspected killers.

Sandra Gant, of Wellesley Road, Clacton, was last seen on November 15, 2003.

Police launched a murder investigation following her disappearance, but no one has ever been charged.

The family believes Ms Gant was murdered.

Her daughter Lauren Cheasley, of Brooklands, Colchester, is now calling on those responsible to come forward with information about her mother’s death so the family can finally be at peace.

She said: “We believe in our hearts that she has been murdered. I hope someone through their guilt will speak up and give us peace of mind.

“I would ask them ‘how would they cope not knowing for seven years what had happened to their mum?’ We want someone to come forward with even a little bit of information – that would be enough for us.”

The 24-year-old gave birth to her second son, Michael John, 12 weeks ago. Her mum now has three grandchildren she has never met, including her other son Callum, who is five, and her sister’s son Archie, who is six.

The family has continued to campaign to keep Ms Gant’s disappearance in the spotlight, in the hope someone will come forward with new information.

“We did have a phone call from the police liaison officer a couple of months ago to say they had reports of someone they thought was our mum, but it turned out it wasn’t her. She bore such a close resemblance to mum they had to check her DNA to find out it wasn’t her.”

Ms Gant, who was 48 when she disappeared, was featured as part of Lorraine Kelly’s TV series Missing Mothers in July.

Her daughters Carrie, 32, and Lauren, told the programme when Ms Gant’s 20-year marriage ended, she sank into depression and ill health.

Ms Gant, who lived alone, went missing after going to a soup kitchen in Clacton, where she met a couple of friends.

The trio and a new male acquaintance then went for a drink later that evening at a nearby flat.

It is thought she left alone to go home, but it is not known whether she ever got there.

Four people were arrested after the investigation was launched, but no one was ever charged.