Corrie McKeague's mother says it is 'outrageous' more Government money has not been spent on the search for an active British serviceman

New CCTV footage has surfaced showing 23 people police would like to speak with who could hold vital information to help find the missing 23-year-old.

As a serving police officer, Corrie's mother Nicola Urquhart said she had to balance her instincts as an officer with those of a mother.

'Some of it is really difficult. I know of the restrictions of budgets and all the rest of it that police have and I understand it and respect it but now I don't care because I'm a mum,' she said.

'It's not right that the Government can spend hundreds of thousands and millions of pounds redecorating their offices but they can't get a couple of people to sit and watch CCTV for an active serviceman. That's outrageous. Look at the support of the public who want to help and do something.'

Police have said they are viewing footage of the area up until midday after Corrie vanished.

Nicola added: 'That needs to be viewed as a matter of urgency and that's at a Government level. They need to give more resources.'

Suffolk Constabulary placed a pod next to McDonald's today, close to where the Scotsman was last seen in the early hours of Saturday, September 24, showing passers-by the footage. The pod is also there tomorrow.

Background

Corrie was on a night out in Bury on September 23 with friends.

He was separated from the group and bought a takeaway from Pizza Mama Mia on St Andrews Street North.

He was spotted on CCTV at 1.20am with the takeaway and then slept in the doorway of Hughes electrical store, in Brentgovel Street, for a couple of hours.

His last sighting was on CCTV at 3.24am, when he turned into an alleyway near Short Brackland.

'It's a week before payday, his puppy is in his bedroom and his car is a three-minute walk away,' said Nicola.

He's made plans for two weeks' time for his brother to come down. He's bought flights to go back home for Halloween and for Christmas.

'I had just been with him the week before because it was his birthday. We had stayed at the barracks with him and gone out in a boat on the Norfolk Broads.'

As people queued down the street to view the footage, Nicola said there was no evidence her son's disappearance was deliberate on his part.

'There's not one bit of evidence that shows it. Every part of his night is covered by CCTV until he goes in there at 3.24am,' she said.

Suffolk Police's comments

Suffolk Constabulary Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott is leading the investigation.

The force is facing a busy time currently, with a number of large-scale operations underway, including a shooting in Ipswich this week and a double-murder investigation at Weybread.

A spokeswoman said: 'Suffolk Police are facing a busy time but due to the importance of the enquiry we have the capability to boost resilience where required and are using special support from the RAF.'

Det Supt Elliott added: 'Today's an important day. It's two months now since Corrie went missing. We put the pod in Bury St Edmunds town centre as we know it's a very busy time with the Christmas market there.'

She said they were reviewing 1,100 hours of CCTV footage.

She urged anyone with information to call 01473 782019.

'He melts people's hearts'

Thousands of people have been supporting Corrie's family in Suffolk, handing out leaflets and volunteering.

Nicola said her son touched people's hearts.

'He's been like that his entire life,' she said. 'He just smiles and he melts people's hearts. Everybody that meets him adores him. That's Corrie, he just wants to be loved by everyone. He always goes out of his way to be fantastic and fabulous and a nice person to be around. He will talk to anyone because that's just what he loves.'

Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defence has not currently responded to a request for a comment.

However, Bury's MP Jo Churchill is parliamentary private secretary to defence minister Mike Penning.

She said earlier this month: 'I have taken it as my role to ensure that Corrie's disappearance remains at the forefront for the Ministry of Defence, and that the department has been assisting the ongoing police investigation.'