A LEADING Aboriginal tracker has joined the search for a Lancaster girl who is missing in Australia feared dead.

Hayley Stephenson,17, was enjoying her new life in Oz when she disappeared last summer while hitch-hiking across the country.

Her mother Margaret turned private detective to lead the search for Hayley but, despite extensive media coverage and a two-month police investigation, the hunt has proved fruitless.

This week top aboriginal tracker Kevin Cameron offered to launch his own investigation into Hayley's disappearance.

"He's very shy of the media and keeps a low profile," said Margaret, who emigrated to Australia but maintains close links with her Lancaster relatives.

"He has worked for the police before and has had a lot of success. He's renewed our hopes although we're expecting the worst. Hayley has either been abducted or murdered but we're hopeful Kevin will at least find something. He has offered his services for no pay which is wonderful. I just want to know what's happened to my daughter."

A wishing well has been built at the site where Hayley went missing and fund-raising in Lancaster and abroad has helped Margaret continue her search.

Her sister, Marie West, who lives on Scafell Road, added: "She has now got enough money to pay for divers to search a couple of the many dams in the area. She has sent over newspaper clips plus videos of TV coverage but, to be honest, I have not watched them yet. It's too sad."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.