POLICE believe missing York man Peter Critchlow could have wandered off after losing his memory, it emerged today.

Peter's distressed girlfriend, Dawn Harrison, mentioned this as she issued a fresh plea for information about his whereabouts.

Dawn, who lives near Peter's home in Markham Street, The Groves, revealed the police were also preparing to search the River Ouse as their hunt for Peter expanded around York.

"The police say there is a possibility that he has amnesia," said Dawn. "But if that was the case you would think someone would have found him."

She said: "I need to know where he is. I can't come to terms with it until I know what happened."

Civil servant Peter, 25, was last seen in the Heworth Green area after a night out with friends on Saturday, November 15.

Police divers have already searched the River Foss after fears grew about the missing pensions worker. Now officers are planning to search a section of the Ouse, where Peter liked to go, behind the Willow Chinese restaurant in Coney Street.

Dawn, who had been Peter's girlfriend for two years, said she and his parents, Norma and John in Northampton, were frantic with worry.

"He could have fallen in the Ouse. He used to like to go and stand there," she said.

She said police had made inquiries at the Shoulder of Mutton pub, in Heworth, where Peter used to work, and they were still checking CCTV tapes of the night Peter disappeared.

She has also been told the police are planning to create posters to put up around the city.

She begged anyone who had seen Peter, or who has any information, to phone York Police on 01904 631321.

"It might not seem significant to them, but anything might help. We're incredibly upset and worried," she said.

"It's getting harder. The longer it goes on, the harder it is getting."

Updated: 10:40 Thursday, November 27, 2003