THE mum of a teenage runaway is pleading for her to come back home.

Concerned mum Karen Wareing has not seen daughter Melanie, 14, since Wednesday, when she walked out of school.

Mrs Wareing, of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, said: "There have been bits of rows because Melanie doesn't like house rules either here or at school.

"But we want her back home. We love her and miss her and her brother and three sisters keep asking about her. Her boyfriend is also worried about her, but she hasn't even been in touch with him.''

Two other local girls known to Melanie are also missing and it may be that they are together. Melanie, a pupil at Walton High School, Nelson, has been missing before but has always turned up safe and sound after a short time. The family moved to Nelson from Wigan three years ago.

On the last occasion, in June, she was found within hours of a Lancashire Evening Telegraph report that she was missing from home.

Mrs Wareing said: "Someone who read the report had seen her without realising she was missing from home. Within a couple of hours we had her back.

"I just hope that you can help again. We are just worried to death and tired out from walking the streets looking for her. Melanie and the other girls may be being looked after by someone. But for all I know, she could be out on the streets in all this cold weather.

"I am appealing for her to at least get in touch and let us know she is OK. But what we want most of all is for her to come back home.''

There had been a number of reported sightings and it was thought the girls were still in the Nelson area. All three have been missing from home before.

Anyone with information about the girls' whereabouts is asked to contact Nelson police on 01282 863161, or contact Mrs Wareing on 01282 715623.

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