A missing Valleys man should be celebrating his 25th birthday today, but Kyle Vaughan won’t be unwrapping any presents this year.

Seven months on from his disappearance on December 30, his parents are no closer to finding answers about what happened to their son that night and implore anyone with information to come forward.

Father Alan Vaughan, 53, said: "This is a week of hell for me."

Police opened a murder investigation, with eight people arrested and bailed in connection with his disappearance.

But Alan and Mary Vaughan, from Newbridge, say they have not been able to find any peace and just want to be able to say goodbye and give their son a proper burial.

Mr Vaughan said: "We have got no birthday cards, no presents, no son. The heart is gone out of our lives."

His parents are convinced their son was murdered.

On the evening he disappeared Kyle had spoken to his parents as usual, telling them he was heading out but would be back soon and would be in touch.

He drove off in his silver Peugeot 306, a Christmas present he had just been given.

Alan Vaughan received a call later that evening, telling him the car had been involved in a collision.

Kyle is believed to have survived the crash but there have been no confirmed sightings since.

His father believes the crash was suspicious: "I know my son is a good driver - I taught him. He passed his test first time."

He added: "We are saddened by the fact that no-one will speak and tell us where our son is so we can have a burial and grieve in peace."

His parents believe the families of the eight people arrested and bailed in connection with the case know what happened that night.

Mr Vaughan said: "They need to know that if it was one of them and we knew, we would tell the necessary people. We hope by putting this in the paper someone will put our misery at an end."

"Our Kyle would come and light up the room. The Valleys now are missing that light.

"What people don’t realise is that our family tree ceased on December 30. Our son was born on his grandfather’s birthday and he disappeared on his other grandfather’s birthday."

His parents described their hell in the seven months since the disappearance, taking medication including Warfarin, stroke tablets and anti-depressants.

Unable to face their son’s birthday without him in Newbridge, they will be going away to Pembrokeshire over the weekend.

Mr Vaughan said he and his wife felt in limbo: "When you’re born, you’re born to live. Then you die, which is the natural course of history. But when someone is missing, presumed murdered, it changes your outlook on life.

"We think of Kyle 24/7. All we want is just someone to tell us, to put us out of our nightmare: ‘Your son is buried here’ or ‘We dumped him there.’"

He added: "At the end of the day, it’s memories that will keep us going."

"We know as soon as his body is found there will be a big funeral and that’s what we have to look forward to."

Investigation a priority - Police Detective

Superintendent Peter Jones, senior investigating officer, said: "The investigation into Kyle's disappearance remains a priority for us, and at a time when his family should be helping him celebrate his birthday our thoughts are very much with them. “Specially trained officers are continuing to provide them with support at what is no doubt a very difficult time.

He added: "My focus remains on the need to help the family understand how and why Kyle disappeared."

Anyone with any information can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. The charity is offering a £5000 reward for any information that leads to a conviction.