A distraught mother spoke today of her fears that her missing son is dead.

After two days of police searches, concern is mounting for the safety of Jonathan Danskin who ran into the River Wharfe after the car he was travelling in was stopped by police.

The BMW was stopped in Newall Close, Otley, early on Sunday and self-employed Guiseley joiner Mr Danskin, 28, was spotted soon afterwards in the river.

Police have been scouring the stretch of Wharfe between Otley and Pool since Sunday using police divers, the force helicopter, mounted officers and dog units.

So far they have found no trace of Mr Danskin and believe he made it out of the river and may be laying low, fearing he is in trouble.

But his mother Winifred, of Otley, said she, husband Allan, their daughters, Jeannette and Julia, and her son's girlfriend of 11 months, Lisa Dickson, were ''worried sick'' and feared the worst.

She told the Telegraph & Argus: "We fear he's dead. We're all gutted. The stones by the bottom of the weir are very slippery and we don't know if he's slipped, banged his head and gone downstream or whether he's managed to get out.

"Even if he had got out of the river, he would have been freezing because he only had a short-sleeved shirt on.

"He wouldn't have stayed away this long or just disappeared like that. He's not that type of boy. He wasn't in any trouble with the police."

But Mrs Danskin said they were still holding out hope that her son, who is known as Jono, would be found alive, adding: "You've got to keep hoping haven't you? We're all sick with worry, I can't eat. If anyone does know where he is, we'd just like them to ring and let us know he's safe.''

Police said the BMW had been stopped just after 3.30am as officers were concerned about the way it was being driven.

Inspector Greg McKenna, of Weetwood police, said: "We've searched the river right up to the weir at Pool and the experts say if he was in the water he wouldn't have got that far.''

He believed Mr Danskin was laying low, fearing action would be taken over the incident on Sunday. He added: "We've got some inquiries today which might throw some light on that. All we're concerned with is his safety and we're not going to take action against him."

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