POLICE want to trace an African sounding man who may have clues as to the circumstances surrounding the mystery disappearance of 5 month old Ames Glover from his father's car on the borders of Hounslow almost 14 years ago.

Officers revealed this week that following recent media coverage, a man left an answer phone message with them stating that Ames was taken out of the country to Ghana on the day he was reported missing.

The news brings new hope to a case that has been shrouded in mystery and confounded the police.

On February 5, 1990, Paul Glover had left his son Ames alone on the back seat of his blue Ford Sierra car registration CLP 655Y in South Road, Southall whilst he went to the Lloyds cash-point and then to the Kwality take away curry.

Ames had been dressed in a blue and yellow coat, light green baby-grow, with blue and yellow hat and blue bootees.

On discovering his son missing Mr Glover went into Hamilton Estate Agents and called police. In 1990/91 extensive enquiries were made by the Area Major Investigation Unit (AMIU) but to no avail.

The case was reviewed in 2001/2002 to establish if there were any further lines of enquiry that could be pursued.

In June 2002 the AMIU took over the investigation and have renewed appeals for help, believing the telephone caller could be a vital lead in solving the crime.

Shanika Ondaatjie, Ames mother, said: "Although I have tried to move on, there will always be a part of me that cannot, I need to know what happened to Ames and I know someone has that nugget of information that would help the police, I would ask them to come forward. I don't care if it's good or bad, I just need to know.

"Sometimes I see young boys in the street and can't help but wonder if one of them is Ames, he would be 14 years old now and I have lived in the hope that one day I will find out where he is or what became of him".

Det Supt. Gordon Briggs said: "Little Ames has been missing for twelve years now. Shanika, his mother has spent all these years not knowing what happened to him. What should have been a truly precious period in her life, watching her son growing up, taking his first steps, cutting his first teeth, speaking his first words have all been taken away from her.

"I am convinced someone knows where he is or what happened to him, it has been a long time and allegiances will have changed and I hope that the passage of time and the offer of a £10,000 reward may encourage them to come forward. I would also appeal to their consciences and think of the agony Shanika has been going through".

Police are appealing for the man who made the telephone call to contact the incident room on 020 8284 8561 and are offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction to those responsible for the abduction of Ames Glover.

If you don't want to give your name contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.