A mother missing with her three-year-old son for six months has "gone underground", lawyers have said.

Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, 26, has not used her bank accounts or mobile phone since disappearing with Olly Sheridan, according to solicitors representing the youngster's father.

Patrick Sheridan, 45, has said Christmas was "unbearable" not knowing where his son is.

Image: Olly Sheridan is at the centre of a court battle before he was 'abducted' by his mother

Solicitors at Irwin Mitchell law firm renewed appeals to trace the pair on Thursday, as they said the situation was becoming "increasingly serious".

Olly is at the centre of a family court dispute between his estranged parents.


Miss Yarrow-Sanders disappeared with her son in July a few weeks before she was due to give evidence in a "critical" family court hearing, lawyers say.

A judge raised the alarm in December and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Image: Patrick Sheridan with his son before he went missing

Mr Justice Williams, who had overseen a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said he was gravely concerned.

Family court hearings have been staged in private and journalists were barred from identifying any involved family members, who come from the Basildon area of Essex.

But Mr Justice Williams said he was lifting the order in the hope that publicity would help find Miss Yarrow-Sanders and her son.

He said they could be named and photographs published.

Essex Police are searching and have urged anyone with information to get in touch.

An Irwin Mitchell spokeswoman said on Thursday: "Ellie has gone underground since abducting Olly.

"She has not used her bank accounts or mobile phone since she and Olly disappeared in July."

The spokeswoman added that Miss Yarrow-Sanders' mother had travelled to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, at around the time Olly vanished.

She said Miss Yarrow-Sanders' and Olly might also have stayed in the Huddersfield area.

Lawyer Jenna Lucas added: "The situation for Olly Sheridan is increasingly serious."