THE MOTHER of a 17-year-old boy who has been missing since Christmas Eve says she hopes he will be found soon.

Josh Beasley was last seen leaving the ice rink in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, at around 5.15pm on December 24.

His mother Ruth Harrison, 45, said the disappearance was totally out of character.

She said: "There's no way he'd do this, he'd be in touch, he just wouldn't run away.

"We just want him back and we want him back in one piece and alive.

"We haven't had a Christmas. It's been over a week now and we know as much now as we knew last week.

"Really, anybody who's seen him or someone who looked like Josh should get in touch with the police."

Josh has been studying for A Levels in English literature, English language, philosophy and drama at Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath.

Ms Harrison said: "His big passion was drama and he really wanted to be an actor.

"He's a really happy boy, smart, funny and personable with lots of friends and he was enjoying life."

She said her son's friends had been out every day looking for him and had helped support the family including father Paul Beasley, 48, and sister Rowan, 14.

Police have now released CCTV pictures of Josh leaving a Wetherspoon's pub in Creek Road, Greenwich, at around 4.50pm on December 24.

Investigating officer Acting Detective Chief Inspector Clive Heys said: ""I am very interested to locate anyone who remembers seeing Joshua late on Christmas Eve afternoon.

"The area was very busy, at least 500 people were on and around the ice rink and the streets were very busy too.

"If anybody does know where Joshua is I would ask that they make contact as soon as possible."

Josh is white, 5ft 9in tall, with short black hair, and was last seen wearing a dark hooded top, white cotton shirt, black jeans and black Dr Marten boots.

Anyone with information about his disappearance or whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 8721 4868 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

An appeal for information has also been set up by his girlfriend at myspace.com/joshbeasleymissing