I haven't seen my little girl for two years

Life with her partner, John Dempster, had hit troubled times and the couple needed to spend more time together.

As well as the obvious desire to make her relationship work, Anne-Marie was thinking of their daughter, Danielle.

So when John went to Croydon on a business trip, she took the opportunity to tag along.

That was two years ago today and Anne-Marie has not seen her daughter or partner since.

While she waited in a hotel for him to return from his business meeting, Danielle was being whisked away from her mother.

Then aged three, the child had been left with John's parents at the house they all shared in Greenleaf Gardens, Polegate.

After realising her partner was not coming to meet her at the hotel, she panicked and dashed back to Polegate on the first train she could catch.

Her worst fears were confirmed. The house had been stripped bare of toys and the family's clothes and furniture.

But most sickening of all, Danielle had gone too.

A frantic flurry of telephone calls to the police, friends and relatives followed.

Anne-Marie, 25, said: "It was total panic. I just phoned the police straight away, as soon as I realised and then my mum and dad."

Her parents and brother were mortified to learn their granddaughter and niece had been snatched and, on the advice of the police, scoured the Yellow Pages looking for a solicitor to get court orders in place as soon as was possible.

Alan Hobden and Tim Stirmey, solicitors at Cramp and Co, South Street, Eastbourne, took up the case and succeeded in making Danielle a ward of the courts, which meant legally she had to be returned to the care of the legal system.

But despite an all-ports warning, the Dempsters were believed to have slipped out of the country and initial reports from relatives suggested they were in the south of Spain, an area they had all grown to love after a long holiday.

Since then, Anne Marie has heard nothing but her efforts have not diminished.

As well as employing her English solicitors, the services of Spanish experts have also been secured, appeals have been published in Spanish newspapers, a private detective is on the family's trail and Interpol has been informed.

If money was no object, Anne-Marie would be out there herself, tracking down her daughter but for now all she can do is wait.

Since that terrible day two years ago, she has moved back to her parents' house, which she shares with her mother and brother.

Two of Danielle's birthdays have come and gone as well as Christmases and the child's first day at school - all without a word or a photograph from her only child.

Anne-Marie said: "Special occasions are just awful. She has all her presents upstairs. They are mounting up but she will get them all when she comes home."

To some extent, she has been able to plough on with her life but images and memories of time spent with Danielle drift daily through her mind.

She said: "I do have really bad days but I just have to cope. I know I wouldn't be doing Danielle any favours if she came home and I was in a state."

The passage of time has left Anne-Marie unable to imagine how her daughter looks now at the age of five-and-a-half.

She said: "It's strange but I can't really picture what she will look like now.

"She has probably picked up a bit of Spanish because she is very intelligent but I don't know if she's in school because her father didn't even like her going to playgroup."

The new year means a great deal to Anne-Marie in other ways.

It was a year ago this month that her father died, not living to see the return of his beloved grandchild.

But, despite the pain, Anne-Marie still has hope.

Just over a year ago, on New Year's Eve, she met boyfriend Dave and although she believes it is too early to plan ahead, she has not ruled out the possibility of perhaps one day having another child.

But not before Danielle comes home.

Anyone who has information about Danielle's whereabouts is asked to contact Mr Hobden or Mr Stirmey at Cramp and Co solicitors on 01323 720581.