Friends cannot explain Miss Longhurst's disappearance

Jane Longhurst, 31, who is described as stable, reliable and dependable, with no history of depression, has not been seen since Friday.

Sussex Police have assigned 45 detectives to work on the investigation.

On Wednesday Miss Longhurst's mother, partner and sister appealed for her to come home.

Her partner Malcolm Sentance, who she lives with her in Shaftesbury Road, Brighton, said: "Relationships with me and with her family and friends are absolutely brilliant.

"She is just a normal, run-of-the-mill, happy professional, working woman. So it is really distressing and extremely strange."

Miss Longhurst is a member of an orchestra

Miss Longhurst works at Uplands School in Brighton teaching children with special needs and is also a member of a local orchestra where she plays the viola.

Mr Sentance said goodbye to Miss Longhurst when he went to work at 0645 GMT on the day she went missing.

She was last seen at about 1400 GMT when two former pupils said they bumped into her in Beaconsfield Road in Brighton.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, said: "It could be that Jane feels she wanted to start a new life and she has taken the bull by the horns and gone off.

"Of course she could have been kidnapped on the street."

Police said the only things missing from her flat were her purse and mobile phone.

Anyone with information should contact Sussex Police.