The family of a missing County Cork woman has made an emotional appeal for help, three months after she disappeared without a trace.

45-year-old Tina Satchwell was last seen at her home in Youghal on March 20th.

Her husband Richard says he returned from a shopping trip to an empty house - and that two suitcases were missing.

Her sister, Lorraine Howard told The Pat Kenny Show this morning that the family are doing all they can to remain hopeful:

“As long as there is hope, I’ll just keep hoping for the best outcome,” she said. “I don’t want to even go to the worst outcome.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Crimecall on Monday night, Tina’s husband Richard Satchwell said the last time he saw her they had a cup of tea and some toast and she asked him to go out and pick up some shopping.

When he returned home he found the house empty, except for Tina's two dogs Ruby and Heidi. He said he found this strange because Tina went everywhere with the dogs.

Four days later, having made enquiries with her family and still with no word from her - he contacted gardaí.

Three months on, there has still been no sighting of her.

"Tina come home,” he appealed on Crimecall. “There’s nobody mad at you. My arms are open.”

"The pets are missing you. I just can’t go on not knowing. Even if you just ring the guards, let people know that you’re alright."

Richard Satchwell makes an emotional appeal | Video: YouTube/RTÉ

Ms Howard made a direct appeal to Tina on Newstalk this morning:

“Please come home,” she said. “Even if you don’t want to come home, just let us know that you are OK; all we care about is your welfare, your happiness.”

“If you are happy somewhere else, that is fine too; just please, please let people know that you are alright.”

She also pleaded for anyone who may have information regarding her whereabouts, or who may have seen her on the day she disappeared to get in contact.

“I just don’t know where to start,” she said. “Did she get on a bus? You know, she can’t drive.”

“She had two big bags with her so how did she get from her house to wherever she is now. This is what we are appealing for; somebody has to have seen her dragging two bags on her own.”

Tina is described as being 5' 7'' in height, of medium build with blonde shoulder length hair and blue eyes.

Anybody with information can contact Midleton garda station on 021-462-1550 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111.

You can listen back to Lorraine and Sarah Howard's appearance on the Pat Kenny Show here: