Police continue to appeal for assistance in tracing a 12-year-old girl who went missing in New Addington on Friday afternoon.

Tia Sharp was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington at around noon on Friday 3 August.

Tia, whose family live in Mitcham, said she was going to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon town centre.

DCI Robin Bhairam, who is leading the investigation today, said: “It will soon be 36 hours since Tia was last seen, and still we have no news on her whereabouts.

“As we head into another day of searching, I reiterate our appeals for anyone who may have seen Tia, or has information about her, to come forward.

“Of course if Tia herself is able to contact her family or the police, we urge her to do so. Her family are very concerned as it is wholly out of character for Tia to go missing.”

She is white, of slim build, 4ft 5 in tall and was wearing glasses. She was last seen wearing a yellow bandeau top over a white bra with visible cross straps, light grey leopard-skinned leggings and black and pink Nike high top trainers.

We believe she had a small amount of cash with her but no Zip card (Oyster) and she did not have her mobile phone.

She 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 101 (quoting reference 12MIS025216); or Missing People on 116 000