Esme Smith Missing: Police Fears Grow For Her Safety

Police Increasingly Concerned For Missing Schoolgirl

Thousands of people have backed an online campaign appealing for help in finding a 14-year-old schoolgirl missing for more than a week.

Detectives are growing increasingly concerned for Esme Smith, from Farnham, Surrey, following her disappearance last Thursday.

More than 4,000 people have 'liked' a Facebook page set up to help find Esme Smith

She parted from friends after school, telling them that she was going to Woking 16 miles away and then on to a party.

Instead she changed out of her school uniform and caught a train from Aldershot just after 4pm, and arrived at London Waterloo about an hour later.

Esme, described as an "extrovert, vivacious, normal" teenager, has not been seen by her family or made contact with them since.

Surrey Police did not have any update today. As the search continues, more than 4,000 people have "liked" a Facebook page called Find Esme Smith, dedicated to raising awareness of her disappearance.

One poster wrote: "Esme, look how many people care!" Another wrote: "God bless this girl and get her home safe."

Esme's sister Sian has made an emotional appeal for her sister's safe return, saying: "We just want her back."

She said: "I think she's maybe met somebody out there or planned to meet somebody. We just don't know at the moment, and that's the worrying thing.

"She's not in trouble. We just want her back. We are incredibly worried."

On Twitter, people were retweeting pictures and news reports on the disappearance of Esme, a pupil at All Hallows Catholic School in Farnham.

CCTV captured at Waterloo shows Esme wearing a white flowery dress and a denim jacket. She was carrying a black school bag and black floral bag with chain straps.

Detective inspector Martin Stables, of the Surrey Police missing persons unit, said: "We are carrying out extensive inquiries to locate Esme via CCTV, speaking with family and friends and monitoring social media, but as time goes on our concerns about her welfare grows.

"I urge people to watch and listen to the appeal from Esme's sister, Sian, and to contact police if it jogs their memory into remembering any information which might help locate Esme.

"Similarly, if Esme sees this appeal please get in contact to confirm that you are safe and well."

Esme is white, 5ft 3in, and of slim to medium build, with shoulder-length brown hair that may be tied in a bun. She has brown eyes and a tanned complexion and wears size six shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Surrey Police on 101, or the independent charity Missing People can be contacted anonymously on 116 000.

Close

What's Hot