The desperate family of a grandmother who has been missing for over three weeks made an emotional appeal for her return today, on what is her 66th birthday.

Kay Hawke was last seen at her St Day home at 8.30am on December 28. Since then, despite hundreds of people scouring the area in daily searches, no trace of either her or the dark-coloured Ford Mondeo, registration P491 PRL, that she left in have been found.

A number of possible sightings have been made - most notably in St Agnes near Truro and Porthleven near Helston - but police today admitted that every piece of information has now been looked at and they are at a stage where they are reviewing it for any clues that may have been missed.

At a special press conference held at Camborne police station, Mrs Hawke's family pleaded for her to make contact with police and for members of the public to continue to keep a lookout.

In a plea directed at his wife, Mrs Hawke's husband Gordon said: "We're becoming more and more concerned about you. We all love you and miss you and want you to come home. We all want you back so we can look after you and help you to get better.

"Today is your birthday and it would be the best birthday ever if you would just come home. Happy birthday darling."

Her daughter Claire Hall added: "Mum, we really, really want you back home. It's just not home without you."

She continued: "If there's somebody looking after my mum, thanks for looking after her but it's now time to tell somebody so we can have her back where she belongs, back with us."

She said that Mrs Hawke's grandchildren, eight-year-old Charlie and six-year-old Louis, were also "desperately hoping" that their gran would return for her birthday.

Detective Inspector Jim Main, who is in charge of the investigation, said that over 500 posters had now been put up appealing for anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward.

"No information is too small or insignificant for us to consider. If somebody is looking after Kay they don't have to worry about any comeback on them. They just need to let us know she's ok," he added.

The investigation has become one of the biggest missing person hunts that the area has ever seen, with everyone from coastguards, the Royal Navy and even postmen involved in searching for Mrs Hawke.

Anyone who may know her whereabouts or think they may have seen either her or the car at any point since her disappearance can contact police on 08452 777444, quoting log number 445 311206, or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.