The son of a missing Bradford prostitute has made an emotional appeal for information as to her whereabouts.

Heroin addict Susan Rushworth, who suffers from epilepsy and needs medication to manage her illness, was last seen in the Thornton area of Bradford two weeks ago.

The 43-year-old was last seen at 11.30am on Monday, June 22, getting on to a single-deck bus near the Tyke pub in Thornton Road, Bradford.

Detectives are speaking to people involved in Bradford’s sex industry, including Miss Rushworth’s former clients, in an attempt to establish where she is.

At the time of her disappearance, Miss Rushworth, of Oak Villas, Manningham, was attempting to change her lifestyle.

She had not worked the streets of Bradford’s red light district for three weeks, was undergoing treatment for her addiction and had started to form a relationship with her grandchildren.

Her son, James Rushworth, said: “I just want to appeal to anyone who has seen my mum. We are very worried about her.

“We are a close family and we are not coping very well.

“She has been off heroin for five weeks before she went missing and there’s no reason that she would have left. I have got three children and she has only recently started seeing them. She was getting to know them.

“She has never been missing before.”

Detective Inspector Steve Snow, of Bradford South CID, said: “She was always in regular contact with her family – her mother, daughter and son. She did work in the sex industry as a prostitute and it’s also known that she’s a heroin addict, albeit she has been receiving treatment and trying to get help.”

Police said Miss Rush-worth’s mobile phone had not been used since late on the evening of Monday, June 22, the day she was last seen.

Det Insp said: “Obviously we are trying to explore every avenue and can’t rule anything out, but we are appealing urgently for any information.”

Miss Rushworth is described as white, 5ft 6ins tall, of slim build, with brown greying short hair and a sallow complexion. She was last seen wearing a green zip-up fleece jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with information should call Bradford South CID on (01274) 376473 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.