THE parents of missing Skipton man Rory Johnson-Hatfield say have made another heart-breaking journey to York where he disappeared without trace four years ago to keep his memory in the public eye.

Rory, who was 29 at the time, went missing during a night out in the city on November 19, 2015, and was last seen in the early hours of November 20.

His parents, Doug and Liz, are not giving up hope that he is still alive and have been giving interviews and making appeals in the hope someone comes forward.

"We have to cling on to that," said his mum. "My gut instinct, my gut feeling tells me he did not go into the river that night, as the police think he has.

"I feel he is somewhere and that is keeping us going," said Liz.

CCTV footage of Rory’s last known movements show him at 12.32am where he is seen heading into York with a friend, walking along Tower Street, past Clifford’s Tower.

Six minutes later at 12.38am, the same CCTV camera picks him up on his own, leaving the city centre on the other side of Tower Street and crossing Skeldergate Bridge towards the Skeldergate/Terry Avenue area of York. Another CCTV camera picks Rory up a few minutes later at City Mills flats, on the other side of the river. That is the last known sighting.

His father added they felt too many things didn't add up and were against his normal behaviour. Rory had left things behind in his flat which he always carried with him. He also had things given to him by his mother which he always carried around or used.

"His passport is one," said Doug. He always carried it with him, wherever he went, but it was found in his flat. I bought him a watch for his 21st birthday which he never took off. He even showered with it on, but he had taken it to a jewellers in Skipton for whatever reason and did not pick it up when it was ready.

"We're hoping he will just turn up. The Missing Person charity tells us people go missing all the time for no apparent reason. Only recently they said someone had turned up after being missing for 14 years. It is that hope we carry," said Doug.

"Since he disappeared there has been absolutely nothing, no link, no piece of evidence, nothing," he added.

Both Liz who lives in Lytham St Annes, and Doug, who used to own Brody's restaurant and now lives in France, refuse to give up on their son.

Liz, who, with Doug, conducted house-to-house searches and encouraged the police to bring it cadaver dogs and kayaks to search the river, added: "We need to keep him in the public eye, keep Rory out there and keep appealing to people to come forward with whatever small piece of information they have.

"Someone, somewhere has that information. Someone knows something but isn't coming forward. We are appealing for them to get in touch.

"He was well liked, was chatty and would talk to anyone. Someone must remember talking to him that night in York, even though it was late when he went out. We urge them to search their memory.

"People who lose family members in an accident know what has happened. For them the pain is unbearable. For us, it is beyond unbearable, with not knowing, but we keep on hoping. We have to, for Rory."

Chief Inspector Allan Wescott, senior investigating officer, said: “As another year goes by, our hearts go out to Rory’s parents, Liz and Doug, and all his family and friends, at what must be a very difficult time for them.

“As we have stated previously, the investigation into Rory’s disappearance in York on the night of Thursday 19 November 2015 remains open and we continue to appeal for information about Rory’s last known movements. If anyone has any information about that night, that they haven’t yet shared with the police, or has received any new information which may assist us in our continued efforts to search for Rory, please get in touch with police."