Missing girl's parents make appeal

Parents of a 14-year-old girl missing for three weeks have begged her to come home.

Lisa and Tony Pratt made a direct appeal to their daughter Shelley who has had no contact with family or friends since she was last seen on November 8.

"You're not in trouble. We love you and we miss you. Your brothers and sisters are missing you like mad," they said.

"Nanny is not well, she just keeps crying for you. Daddy's missing you like mad. You're not in any trouble, he just wants to give you a kiss and a cuddle. Mummy is missing you like crazy. All of your aunties and uncles are missing you as well. Please come home. We all love you so much."

A picture of the missing teenager will be displayed on a big screen at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park during this weekend's match against Brighton. Officers will also be handing out leaflets in Croydon town centre this weekend.

Shelley was last seen at around 3.30pm on November 8 when she got off a number 196 bus in Portland Road, South Norwood, Croydon. She was wearing her school uniform trousers and a purple hooded top with "I love (heart symbol) London" on it.

The 14-year-old has gone missing twice before but not for this long. She is around 5ft 6in and has long brown hair. Her Oyster card was used a few hours after she was last seen.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne said: "It has now been three weeks since Shelley went missing and concerns for her safety are understandably increasing by the day. Shelley has had absolutely no contact with friends or family since her disappearance. It is possible that Shelley may be with someone, perhaps in a house or a flat.

"I am encouraging people, particularly Croydon residents, to be nosey neighbours and be extra vigilant as to the movements of any young people who are new to the area."

Anyone with information about where Shelley is can call police on 020 8721 4906.