Officers Make Appeal Over Missing Child

Police are appealing for the public's help in tracing a 12-year-old girl who went missing in south London on Friday afternoon.

Tia Sharp was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington at around midday.

She said that she was going to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon town centre. Tia has not been seen since.

The child is described as white, slim build, 4ft 5in tall and wears glasses.

When she was last seen, she had a yellow bandeau top on over a white bra with visible cross straps, light grey leopard skinned leggings and black and pink Nike high top trainers, police said.

They added: "It is totally out of character for Tia to go missing. We believe she had a small amount of cash with her but no Zip card (Oyster) and she did not have her mobile phone. Tia is known to frequent the Croydon, Mitcham and Wimbledon areas."

Anyone who has seen Tia or knows of her whereabouts should call Merton Police on phone number 101, quoting reference 12MIS025216.