THE RICHARDSON family have issued a £5,000 reward for information ahead of the second public search for Martyn this weekend.

Martyn Richardson, 27, has been missing for almost three months.

He was last seen on August 24 at about 8.30pm in the Bocking area of Braintree.

Essex Police have conducted an “exhaustive search” to find Martyn and studied more than 900 different pieces of CCTV footage to try and piece together his last movements.

A public search took place on October 19, where over 30 volunteers scanned the fields between Dorewards Avenue, The Chase and Broad Road for any sign of Martyn or his belongings.

Missing - Martyn Richardson was last seen on Saturday, August 24. Missing - Martyn Richardson was last seen on Saturday, August 24. (Image: Essex Police) Martyn’s family have been left “distraught” after his disappearance, but they have “kept strong” and made sure Martyn’s name and face is out there.

Lee Richardson, Martyn’s 42-year-old uncle, said: “We’re all desperate for news, and I think as it gets closer to Christmas it’ll get worse.

“Christmas is family time, and a member of our family is missing.”

Reward - Martyn's family has offered a £5,000 reward for information that leads to bringing Martyn home Reward - Martyn's family has offered a £5,000 reward for information that leads to bringing Martyn home (Image: Lee Richardson) He continued: “We have had a lot of support from various organisations in the community to help fundraise for us, some of which has gone towards our reward.

“Lots of people have pulled together to help us with it.

“We’re just hoping for anyone to come forward with anything that might be of any help, and we’re hoping the reward will incentivise people who might know something but are reluctant to come forward.”

Family - Lee says the Richardson are still distraught and are hoping to have Martyn home for Christmas Family - Lee says the Richardson are still distraught and are hoping to have Martyn home for Christmas (Image: Newsquest) Lee is organising a second public search this weekend with support from Promise of Hope, a charity in Braintree.

Promise of Hope was founded in memory of Scott Gilhooly, the landlord of Swiss Bell pub in Braintree who was tragically killed in May 2020.

The groups are looking for around 50 volunteers, and so far they have over 30 people for the search on Saturday.

Volunteers - Lee and Promise of Hope are organising a second public search for Martyn or his belongings Volunteers - Lee and Promise of Hope are organising a second public search for Martyn or his belongings (Image: Sam Lucas) Lee said: “Anyone who wants to join is more than welcome to, and as many as we can get the better.

“It’s great there are people who want to search with us and we want to get more people involved.

“It’s also the people talking about Martyn and discussing theories that is helpful—ideas people might share on a Facebook post are worthy of comment.

Support - Braintree has come together to support the Richardson family in keeping Martyn in everyone's thoughts. Support - Braintree has come together to support the Richardson family in keeping Martyn in everyone's thoughts. (Image: Toni Bunn) “We are continually appreciative of support from the Braintree and Witham Times and the local community, and we’re hoping it will lead to something," he added.

The second public search for Martyn is on Saturday, November 16.

The team will meet at 9.15am in Dorewards Avenue to commence the search at 10am.

To join the public search, email findmartyn@gmail.com. For more information, and join the 'Find Martyn' Facebook group.