A missing Sussex man will be the first to feature in an appeal for information using posters on the back of lorries.

The National Missing Persons Helpline has teamed up with several national companies to feature the adverts on their trucks.

Missing 32-year-old chef Stephen Oram, from St Leonards, disappeared in February. He will be the first to feature in the campaign beginning on Tuesday - National Missing Persons Awareness Day.

A pilot scheme conducted earlier this year for missing 15-year-old Portsmouth girl Katherine Bailie resulted in her getting in touch with her family for the first time in 12 months.

"If one person is found, if one family can sleep better at night, if one mystery is solved, we will have been successful," said Diana van den Dungen, from Capco, one of the construction industry companies taking part.

About 150 lorries will be involved in the campaign, which will run indefinitely.

Mr Oram lost his job just before Christmas.

He was staying with his sister Caroline at her home in Hastings but vanished with no warning and without taking any clothes or belongings.

Mr Oram was described as "extremely depressed".

His sister said: "Just a phone call to let us know that he's all right would take such a weight off our minds, even if he doesn't want to come home."

Other companies involved in the initiative are Lafarge Plasterboard, HEP Sections and MCF Services.