A judge today asked the public to help a distraught father find his missing nine-year-old son, who may be "at risk".

Skye Stream was abducted by his mother, peace activist Emma Westwood, outside his home in Campbell Road, Cowley, Oxford, in breach of a court order that he should live with his father, Tony Humbleyard, 36.

Today Mr Humbleyard, the child's natural father, described how he was now "at the end of my tether" after not seeing Skye for 17 months.

He said he could not bear to listen to the BBC Radio 4 serial The Archers because of the uncanny resemblance between a storyline in the programme and his own dilemma.

Earlier, Mrs Justice Hogg appealed at the High Court in London for the media to help in the search, saying: "We are very concerned about his welfare."

Describing it as "a particularly upsetting case", the judge added: "We fear Skye might be at risk."

Mr Humbleyard, who lives in West Yorkshire and works in Leeds as a community mediator helping to resolve disputes between neighbours, won an order at Oxford County Court in May last year that Skye should live with him. The dispute went to court after Ms Westwood, 42, an activist with the Ploughshares disarmament movement, refused to allow Mr Humbleyard to see the child.

Each time the father travelled from Sheffield to Oxford to see Skye, he was turned away.

After the court made the order against her, the mother disappeared with Skye. She was last seen at her home in Campbell Road, Oxford, on May 19 last year, putting Skye and some bags into a car.

Today Mr Humbleyard said he was in despair.

"Every month that goes by is another month of his childhood that I have missed.

"I don't know when, if ever, I will see him again," he said. "I am afraid for his welfare. My only hope is of a member of the public coming forward and saying they have seen them."

Mr Humbleyard described how he could not bear now to listen to the Archers. On radio, the character Kate Aldridge, daughter of wealthy farmer Brian Aldridge, has led an alternative lifestyle and had a baby at the Glastonbury festival. The father, her former boyfriend Roy Tucker, is fighting for the right to have access to the child after Kate, as in the real-life case of Skye, has refused him any contact.

Mr Humbleyard said there was an unconfirmed sighting of Skye at the Glastonbury Festival this summer.

He added: "I cannot listen to the Archers. I have to switch it off.

"Kate is so similar to Emma, only Emma is a bit more malicious."

Lawyers for Mr Humbleyard, who last saw Skye at his birthday, said a judge had decided the mother had a fatal flaw in that she could not prevent herself from causing harm to the child by depriving him of his relationship with his father.

They argued that Mr Humbleyard had behaved "with admirable restraint and sensitivity" and was a far better prospect in coping with the child's needs.

Mr Humbleyard said he feared that Skye was being "torn between two people" and it was thought he was having difficulties at his last known school.

He believes Skye is still in Britain, although his mother, also known as Susan Ibbotson, Susan Westwood and Emma Ibbotson, has connections with Belgium.

Mr Humbleyard said: "Emma has a lot of wealthy friends who are peace activists and very well organised, quite capable of hiding a person from the authorities.

"This disappearance was well planned and what she threatened to do." Skye was described at the time of the abduction as 4ft 7ins tall, of average build with pale freckly skin, blue eyes and curly red-brown hair.

His mother is described as 5ft 2ins, thin build with pale features. At the time of the abduction her brown hair was long and greying, usually worn in a pony tail. She has particularly close connections with London, Birmingham and the Bristol area.

Believed to be with her now is boyfriend Martin O'Driscoll, who was imprisoned for contempt of court in July for refusing to give information.

He is described as 6ft 2ins, with long, grey straggly hair and a beard. He has blue eyes and is quietly spoken.

Anyone with information about Skye, his mother or her boyfriend Martin O'Driscoll should call solicitor Phillippa Sanderson at Wake Smith Solicitors on 01142 666660.

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