THE Lydney aunt of a teenage boy who went missing from Cowes on the Isle of Wight 20 years ago hopes a new documentary will cast some light on his mystery disappearance.

Sally-Anne Austin, said as a result of the BBC Three online documentary, The Boy Who Disappeared, a petition is underway to financially aid police to search areas where the body of 16-year-old Damien Nettles is believed to be buried.

She said: “The police have always said they don’t have the funds to search areas that we have been told his body is buried so if we can get funds then there will be no excuses.”

Damien was out with friends on November 2 1996 but never made it home.

Sally said: “The documentary was made because the reporters were looking to make a documentary and happened to come across Damien’s story. 

“Since the programme aired in July the family has received a tremendous amount of public attention. A member of the public felt so compelled to help they started a petition.

“My sister and family have lived with this for 20 years and hit brick wall after brick wall trying to find out what happened.

“Damien had a fantastic sense of humour, very funny. He was a good kid, popular with many friends and kind hearted. He was the class clown.

“It has been incredibly exhausting trying to keep Damien’s name out there. Someone knows what happened to him. We so desperately need answers.”

To sign the petition visit www.petition.parliament.uk/petitions/164442. The document is available on the BBC iPlayer.