Express & Star comment: Natalie Putt’s family deserve answers

Natalie was 17 years-old when she left her home in Lower Gornal, never to return.

That was 15 years ago, and her family still don’t know what happened to the beloved daughter, sister and mother.

Now an inquest has opened into her presumed death, even though no body has ever been found.

• We need justice: Family of missing Natalie Putt still desperate for answers

A police investigation, despite taking officers all over the country, has up to now failed to unearth the truth about Natalie’s disappearance.

But one thing is certain. Somewhere out there, someone knows what happened to Natalie Putt.

We fully support her family’s quest for justice.

For them, it has undoubtedly been a long and difficult decade and a half.

Hopefully the start of the inquest will lead to someone coming forward with information that can help crack the case.

Natalie’s family have suffered for too long. They deserve closure.

They deserve dignity.

And the Express & Star will be backing them every step of the way.