THE mother of a postman who "vanished off the face of the earth" after a night out last week has pleaded for help in finding her son.
Matthew Dalzell, 27, left his mobile phone, wallet and other important belongings at his home after he disappeared following a night of drinking at Diggers pub on Angle Park Terrace last Thursday with his cousin and a stranger he met that evening.
He was spotted walking with the other man towards his home in Gorgie at 4.25am the following morning, but police believe the pair parted before they reached the house and Mr Dalzell has not been seen since.
The alarm was raised when he did not show up for work.
His mother, Saranna Dalzell, who lives in Corstorphine, said she was "very concerned" that he had not been in touch and said she believed something untoward had happened to him.
The 55-year-old said: "This is very unusual for Matthew, which is why the police are taking it so seriously. It's not like him to not be in touch, it seems like he's vanished off the face of the earth. The conclusion we have to reach is that something has happened to him.
"My husband let himself into Matthew's flat with the spare key after his work said he hadn't showed up. He said it looked as if there had been some sort of party, but nothing out the ordinary. His mobile phone was in the flat and there were a lot of missed calls.
"I'd been on holiday, but I saw him before I went and he seemed perfectly happy.
"His cousin said there was nothing untoward about him the night they went out and his friends also said he had been acting normally. We are so worried something bad has happened."
Mr Dalzell went to Diggers pub last Thursday night with his cousin. While they were there, Mr Dalzell, who lives alone, befriended another man who shared his love for Hearts. His cousin went home after Diggers closed, but the two men are believed to have made their way into the West End to continue drinking.
Two police officers spotted the pair making their way towards Gorgie at 4.25am. The other man is not under any kind of suspicion.
Mrs Dalzell said: "If anyone knows anything about Matthew's disappearance, we'd really like them to get in touch. We just want to know where he is and what has happened."
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Anyone who has been in contact with Matthew since Friday, June 10, is asked to come forward. Similarly, Matthew is urged to make contact with family, friends or police as soon as possible."
Mr Dalzell is described as white, 6ft tall with a medium build, brown eyes, short brown hair and an Edinburgh accent.