THE heartbroken sister of a man who vanished a year ago has said she can never be at peace until the missing link of her family is found.

Ann Margaret Allan, 33, explained the heartbreak her whole family has endured since her younger brother Samuel Townsley vanished in Glasgow city centre on October 19, last year.

The much-loved sibling has changed his family's life forever since he disappeared, with his sister Christine Townsley, 30 and younger brother Alan Sutherland, 22, also struggling to come to terms with not knowing where he is.

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Ann Margaret, above, who affectionately refers to her brother as Sammy, said: "We have literally been everywhere emotionally that you can go. It is a really common phrase and it is overused but it really has been like a rollercoaster.

"I am personally at the stage now where you get through the days, and try and smile. And then you go to bed at night and you can’t get to sleep thinking everything. There is not a thought I haven’t thought.

"It is hard to have a night without a dream about him. It is never the ones you want. It is a never a good dream. It is always a nightmare."

She added: "He is the missing link out of our family. We will never be at peace until he is found."

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Police Scotland launched a major search operation for Samuel, above, who was last seen by officers who were carrying out a routine check on Union Street on the day he went missing.

Ann Margaret, who lives in Falkirk, explained that a barber on the busy street alerted the police to Samuel because he looked vulnerable.

She believes that his appearance on the day he vanished could resonate with Christmas shoppers who may have saw him.

She said: "Someone in the barbers in Union Street said they called the police because Sammy asked to use the bathroom and they were really concerned about him.

"It was a really cold day and he was wearing trainers with no socks and shorts. It just wasn’t appropriate for the weather at that time of year."

She added: "He just looked so vulnerable and that broke my heart when I heard that.

"You have no idea how unusual that was for him. He has never in his entire life liked to be cold. He used to wear a couple of jumpers and three pairs of socks.

"I don’t know if that speaks to what situation he was in that very day. Was there a situation going on where he had to grab clothes quick and go or was there something going on in his own mental state? I don’t know the answer."

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The family have also ruled out the possibility that Samuel, above, has left the country with most searches concentrated across Scotland.

Ann Margaret said: "In the beginning after he was missing for a couple of months, I did think that he may have went abroad. Someone had even said they thought they saw someone like him on an aeroplane.

"But that was looked at and his passport was never renewed from when he was a child. He had no legal way of leaving the country at all."

She added: "Police have been in all places in which Sammy has ever been at any stage in his life.

"There is no evidence that he is alive and well, which is absolutely heartbreaking."

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Police looking for Samuel on Union Street

Samuel, who was 28 when he vanished, is well-known in Scotland's traveller community. He often slept rough and has no fixed address although he had been living in Clydebank as recently as last summer.

His father William first reported him missing to Ayrshire police and since then each member of the family have taken turns to keep his name and face in the spotlight.

Ann Margaret said: "Sammy if you are reading this, please with all my heart, brother I love you so much, just come home.

"We are completely aware of how hard things have been for you but I need you in my life, everybody needs you."

The family plan to hand out flyers with Samuel's details in Glasgow when the one year anniversary falls on Thursday.

They have also praised the Missing People Scotland group for their efforts in keeping their brother's name in the spotlight.

Ann Margaret said: "I owe a great debt of gratitude to Missing People Scotland as they have been so supportive."

Samuel is described as white, 5ft 2 inches tall with a stocky build and has short brown hair.

Anyone with information over the whereabouts of Samuel should contact Police Scotland through 101.

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Funding boost in Scotland for Missing People

A national charity which helps missing people and their loved ones reconnect has received a funding boost.

Missing People has been awarded £59,519 of Scottish Government funding to increase the help available to missing people in Scotland.

There are around 100 reports of missing people in Scotland everyday, with many of these relating to a person who has been missing on previous occasions.

Missing People runs a free and confidential helpline to provide 24/7 support to these missing children, adults, and their families.

It is essential to ensure that missing people and their families receive high quality and effective support, which is why the recently published National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland aims to improve joint working between the agencies involved in safeguarding missing people.

As well as setting out the roles and responsibilities for different agencies, the Framework highlights the need to improve the quality of the discussions which take place with someone who has been missing after they have been returned.

Missing People, in partnership with Shelter Scotland, Barnardo’s Scotland, and the University of Glasgow, will deliver free, country-wide training early next year to highlight the central role that these discussions play in preventing people from falling into patterns of frequently going missing, and improve the quality of the discussions that take place.