ANTHONY Stammers went missing from his Colchester home ten years ago on Friday.

A decade has passed, but for his parents Julie and Rob, time has been warped by surreal and horrific uncertainty.

Julie said: “Some days it does feel like forever other days it feels like yesterday and it seems like he’s just been on holiday.

Rob adds: “Sometimes we do have to pinch ourselves, saying it’s been ten years - personally I can’t believe it.”

Anthony went missing from his home in Mile End Road, Colchester, on May 27, 2012.

Despite his disappearance sparking a wide-scale police search and public appeals for information, there have been no significant leads.

His parents still hold out hope Anthony, who was 27 when he disappeared, is still alive.

They said: “We’re very hopeful Anthony will be found one day and we’re still hoping he’s alive and well somewhere, but there has been no significant news for many years now. And while we don’t have any bad news we continue to wait for any news.

“It’s a black hole of despair. There are no answers to any of the questions you have. Only the person who is missing can answer them for families like us.

“You just want to know ‘where are you?’, ‘Are you okay?’"

Julie, says charity Missing People has been a lifeline for them.

They said: “They give you a lot of support, they are there for you.

“You also have the opportunity to meet other families in our situation and they immediately get it, it’s like being with the nicest people in the world for the worst reason.”

Anthony, who had previously been treated for depression, was last seen on May 27 when he told his mum he was going to meet friends in London.

However, Anthony did not meet his friends or attend his grandfather’s funeral at Colchester Crematorium.

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Describing their son, who would now be 37, Julie and Rob say he was “easy going”, with a great sense of humour.

They said he loved reading, writing and playing the guitar – his band even performed concerts in aid of Amnesty International.

“He was always looking out for others and was very caring,” the said.

Anthony’s brother James, 40, recently took part in SAS: Who Dares Wins to raise awareness about his brother’s disappearance.

On Saturday he is set to run 100 miles from Kingston-Upon-Thames to Colchester in 24 hours to raise money for Missing People.

He plans to finish the challenge at Colchester Parkrun alongside his parents and sister Cathy, who are completing 5km a day for ten days.