POLICE have re-newed an appeal for help to trace two young Romanian women who disappeared during a choir visit to Lancaster.

The cousins, aged 22 and 23, have not been seen since they parted company from their 40-strong Romanian choir following a series of concerts in the area.

Loredana Chioveanu, 23, and Daniela Vintila, 22, from the town of Ploiesti, were touring with the Comenius Project.

They arrived in the UK on December 13 and had taken part in concerts at Ashton Memorial, Lancaster Royal Grammar School and St John's Church Morecambe.

The two young women were staying with a host family in the Morecambe area before their disappearance.

Police are now trying to trace them.

It is thought the cousins may be trying to seek asylum in this country, although a Home Office spokes-man said they could not confirm or deny that an application had been received

A police spokesman says investigations are continuing and they are hopeful of locating the two women.

At the time of their disappearance Daniela was wearing a long grey coat with fur collar and three distinctive rings on her fingers.

She is described as five feet five inches tall with black, collar length hair.

Loredana was wearing a jacket with a red polo neck top.

She is also five feet five inches tall with a scar under her nose and brown hair.

Anyone with info-rmation about the two women is asked to call police on 63333.