POLICE in the Ribble Valley have urged young people to always let their parents know their whereabouts, after they spent almost a week searching for a missing girl, who was found safe and well at a friend's house.

Samantha Yates, 16, of Clitheroe disappeared a week ago and eventually telephoned her parents from a friend's home in Burnley last Thursday evening.

Sergeant John Lindsey, of Longridge, said although police were relieved she was safe, the case highlighted a common problem.

"Cases where we are searching for a missing person can be a very big drain on our resources. It can take us away from our core role of policing.

"Obviously, if it is a vulnerable young person missing from home, then we would be extremely concerned, which is why we put a lot of effort into such cases.

"If young people simply let their parents know where they are, it could save a lot of trouble."

The case comes just two weeks after Gemma Wrighton, 22, of Clitheroe went missing for three days then she telephoned her parents to say she had been staying at the home of a male friend.

Police trawled through CCTV footage in an effort to trace her after she became separated from friends in Blackburn town centre.