Search continues for missing mother and her 18-month-old son

Updated

Police searching for a mother who went missing with her 18-month-old son on New Year's Eve have sent messages to her Facebook account as concern for them deepens.

Officers have not received a response to their appeals for Ileana Tomoiaga, 29, to get in touch following her disappearance with her son Daniel Sava.

She left their home in Furnace Road, Uckfield, East Sussex, at 2.30pm, saying she was going to a nearby Tesco Express to buy a bottle of wine and a phone charger.

But Sussex Police said there is no evidence that she visited the store or any other shops in the town. Relatives reported her missing on New Year's Day.

Appealing for help in finding the mother and son, Shannon Marchesani, of the East Sussex Missing Persons team, said: "We are growing concerned about Ileana and Daniel.

"We are appealing to Ileana to contact us to let us know she and Daniel are safe. The evidence shows that Ileana left home completely of her own accord and there are still no suspicious circumstances.

"However, she did not leave with anything to prepare either of them for even a short stay away, and nothing has been heard since."

As the search for Ms Tomoiaga widened to London, friends spoke of their concern for Ms Tomoiaga, describing her as "always smiling" and "a bit reserved".

One, Malina Iftimie, told the Brighton Argus newspaper: "I used to nickname her The Princess as she was, and still is, very beautiful.

"She was always trying to help, she was always speaking nicely to everyone, behaving nicely, always taking care of people's feelings so as not to upset anyone."

Ms Tomoiaga previously lived in Willesden, north-west London, and officers in Sussex are in contact with the Metropolitan Police.

Posters are being distributed in the capital to aid the search. Ms Tomoiaga is described as white, 5ft 5in, slim with long red straight hair and pale skin.

She was wearing a black leather jacket, black trousers and brown boots. She speaks English, with a Romanian accent. Daniel was last seen wearing a blue jacket and black shoes.

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