TWO schoolgirls have sparked a police appeal after reports they had run away to Scotland with a couple of teenagers.

Karly Louise Hill and Nicola Houston, both 13, have been missing from their homes in the centre of Colne for a week.

Officers investigating the case are becoming increasingly concerned for their health and welfare but said the pair had made a number of telephone calls to their families and appeared to be safe and well.

Today their head teacher at Park High School urged them to contact the police and stressed that they were not in trouble.

The teenage friends were last seen on Tuesday, May 14, as they set off for school at the usual time.

Neither of the two girls arrived at school and both the police and their parents are growing increasingly concerned about their welfare.

PS Martin Bishop of Colne Police said it was possible from what they had said in the calls that they had visited Sheffield and Scotland but it was also likely they are still in the Pendle or Lancashire area.

"I think there may be an element of them having intended to go somewhere.

"We are concerned because of their age and because it would seem they are in the company of two 17 or 18-year-old males.

"We believe they have no access to money and only had the usual spending money a 13-year-old would have.

"We are taking comfort in the fact they are making contact with their family and are reported to be OK and it was seemingly a pre-planned adventure.

"But I would urge Karly and Nicola to please make contact with the police, a friend or relative as soon as possible.

"They are not in trouble. We are only concerned with their health and wellbeing."

Both girls are said to be approximately 5ft 3in and slim. Karly has a pale freckled complexion and straight brown hair and Nicola has dark straight hair and suffers from asthma.

It is not certain whether the girls are wearing their school uniforms.

Alan Chambers, headteacher at Park High School, said: "As far as I can recall both girls were in as usual last Monday.

"We are very concerned for their safety and want them found straight away and get them back home and back in to school.

"A number of fellow pupils are quite concerned about them and it was actually other pupils that made us aware that they had gone missing.

"They are not a problem in school and are not in trouble here in any way. They are just typical teenage girls.

"We have absolutely no idea where they are but we are keeping in close contact with their parents."

Anyone with information about the girls or anyone who knows them and had discussed their plans with them should contact the police on 01282 425001.