DETECTIVES investigating the mystery disappearance of a mum-of-two say they are still hopeful new information will come to light - seven years after she went missing.

Just three-weeks before she was due to get married 29-year-old Nicola Ray disappeared without a trace.

She had been visiting a friend's home in Delvins on the Felmores estate, Pitsea, and was last seen when she left in the early hours of Tuesday, May 2000, to make her way home, on foot, to her house in Voysey Gardens.

Somewhere along the journey to the home she shared with her two daughters - aged 11 and seven at the time - and her fiancee, Timothy Barnes, Nicola disappeared.

The blonde barmaid, who was believed to have been suffering from depression when she vanished, took all her clothes but did not leave a note for her family.

Police launched a hunt for Nicola, scouring local lakes and open areas, but their searches proved fruitless and detectives began to treat her disappearance as a murder enquiry.

Now, on the seventh anniversary of her disappearance, detectives have launched a fresh bid to find out what happened to her.

Investigating officer, Supt Simon Dinsdale, of the Rayleigh Major Investigation Team, said: "Cases like Nicola's are never closed and we are always looking for more information which could lead to us solving this case.

"We would hope this appeal may jog people's memories and would ask anyone who remembers anything, no matter how small, to give us a call."

In February 2001 police arrested and quizzed a 38-year-old man in connection with Nicola's disappearance but he was released without charge.

In May 2001 the investigation was given fresh hope when a piece of bone was found in Pound Lane, Bowers Gifford, near to where Nicola went missing. Forensic tests on the bone later proved negative.

Nicola is 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build with blue eyes, long fair hair and a pale complexion. When she was last seen she was wearing a mini-skirt, sleeveless top and was carrying a blue and white rucksack.

Anyone with information can contact police on 01268 775533 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.