A DISTRAUGHT grandmother has made an emotional appeal to her teenage granddaughter, missing from home for more than a month.

Vanessa Hull, 15, has not been seen since she disappeared from a social services home on Whalley New Road, Blackburn, on May 1.

Police and care workers have become concerned about her welfare, despite several telephone messages and letters which she has sent to her grandmother, Edith Hall.

Edith, 80, of Broughton Close, Higher Croft, Blackburn, has appealed for Vanessa to come home or at least let her know she is all right.

She said: "I am terrified about what might have happened to her.

"She is such a nice girl and has never done anything like this before. I don't think she realises the position she has put herself in.

"She did telephone me when she had been missing for about two weeks, and it was a Morecambe number.

"I would be happy if she would just telephone again to say she is all right. We have been worried sick."

Vanessa, who is 5ft 5ins tall and has mousy hair, left the social services home wearing her Our Lady and Saint John's school uniform, but never arrived for lessons.

She is believed to have taken spare clothes with her.

Vanessa was placed in social services care when her mother became unable to look after her and her sister Danielle, 17, who still lives with her grandmother.

Inspector Stuart Coates of Blackburn police said: "We are concerned and we want to know that Vanessa is safe and well.

"We have interviewed her boyfriend and he says he does not know where she is.

"It is no good us receiving letters and notes from other people because that is not an assurance of her safety.

"Vanessa doesn't have to make contact with a relative but we would ask her to contact us or the social services.

"Until we hear any different we consider that she is at risk."

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