Danny (pictured) flew to Spain with his son to look at properties with a view to purchasing a holiday home

The family of a British father and son who vanished without a trace on the Costa Del Sol six weeks ago are desperately waiting for news after British detectives issued a fresh appeal for information today.

Officers are investigating the disappearance of Danny Poole, 46, and his son Liam, 22, who flew to Malaga in southern Spain on March 31 for a six-day holiday.

But they have not been in touch with relatives in England since April 1 - sparking fears among detectives they 'could have come to harm'.

They had been staying at the luxurious Valle Romano Golf & Resort in the seaside town of Estepona, flying out so Danny could search for a holiday home to buy.

Father-of-three Danny, who owns a garage, checked into the hotel with his son and they were last spotted at an internet cafe.

Their passports and clothes were left in their room and their grey Peugeot 308 rental car they hired has not been returned - prompting an international search by both British and Spanish police.

Father and son Daniel (left) and Liam (right) Poole travelled to Malaga, Spain, on 31 March 2019. Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater said: 'We are working closely with the Spanish Police. One possibility that must be considered, as they have not contacted family or friends, is that they have come to harm'

British detectives say these clues indicate this 'was not a planned disappearance' and they reckon the pair 'may have come to harm'.

The case is being investigated by the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team and detectives today issued another appeal for any fresh leads.

Daniel Poole and his son Liam (pictured together) of Burgess Hill, Sussex, have been missing since April 1. The pair were staying at Valle Romano Golf & Resort in the seaside town of Estepona in Spain

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater, of Sussex Police, said the last confirmed sighting of the pair was them leaving their hotel on April 1.

DCI Heater said she 'could not comment' on the Spanish investigation and said there are no British detectives working on the case in Spain.

But she added her team are in contact with their overseas colleagues 'almost daily' over email.

'The Spanish police are co-operating fully with us, but at this stage there is no other information about where they have gone,' DCI Heater said.

'One possibility that must be considered, as they have not contacted family or friends, is that they have come to harm.

'We know that Daniel and Liam hired a grey Peugeot 308 car registration number 0254KTM when they arrived in Spain but this has not been returned to the car hire firm.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater, of Sussex Police, said the last confirmed sighting of the pair was them leaving their hotel (pictured) on April 1

'Also their luggage was left in their hotel together with their passports suggesting this was not a planned disappearance.

'Their family are very concerned about them as they last heard from them on April 1, the lack of contact is out of character for the pair.

'The family are being supported by family liaison officers and are being kept informed.'

*Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting Operation Pheasant.