Police have marked the 47th anniversary of Scotland's longest running missing persons cases with a fresh appeal for information on Sandy Davidson.
Little Sandy was just three years old when he disappeared from his grandparents' garden in Bourtreehill, Irvine, on April 23 1976. He had been playing with his little sister Donna when he is thought to have chased the family dog out of the garden gate.
Despite widespread appeals and searches of the local area and beyond, Sandy was never seen again. Another year on, Police Scotland has issued a renewed appeal for information, once again publishing a photo of Sandy as he may have looked at the age of 43 that was released in on the 40th anniversary of his disappearance in 2016.
The force's Ayrshire division said on social media on Monday: "Yesterday marked 47 years since the disappearance of Sandy Davidson, who went missing on 23 April 1976, aged 3 years old. Sandy was playing in the garden of his grandmother’s house in the Bourtreehill area of Irvine along with his younger sister Donna, then aged 2, and the family dog.
"It is believed that the dog escaped from the garden, and Sandy went to look for it but never returned. Despite an intensive search by police, members of the community and a high-profile media campaign, there was no trace of Sandy.
"Over the years, Sandy’s sister Donna has worked tirelessly to try and trace Sandy and led various campaigns to ensure the public is aware of Sandy’s disappearance. Sandy has blue eyes and blond hair. Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101."
Donna has campaigned endlessly to find out what happened to her big brother. She shared an old family photograph of Sandy in a post on Facebook at the end of last year.
Posting the snap, she wrote: "Love this picture. I've not mentioned you as much lately Sandy but I still think about you every single day and night forever in my heart. Love and miss you so much our blue eyed boy"
Last year, Donna appeared on an Amazon Music podcast, The Missing, to share Sandy's story with a global audience. She told host Pandora Sykes that being unable to clearly remember her big brother had tortured her for decades.
Donna said: "This has been my life. I was only two when Sandy went missing so I've got no living memory of Sandy at all.
"I just need to make my own memories of him, pictures, that's the only memory I've got. I need to imagine a picture to imagine what he looks like.
"How can I not remember him? How can I not just get one memory?"
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