POLICE have issued a desperate plea for a missing Hampshire teenager to come home.

Charlotte Piper from Chandler’s Ford has been missing for five days and fears are growing over her welfare.

Now police are urging people who may have seen her to get in touch after she was possibly spotted in West Quay shopping centre on Wednesday at 1pm.

Efforts to find the 17-year-old have been stepped up and police are working with officers in Middlesex, as the teenager has links there.Leaflet drops in Eastleigh and Southampton have also been carried out.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Charlotte went missing for five days at this time last year, however police refuse to say whether that has any significance in their current investigation.

Chief Inspector Dave Winter said: “Charlotte has been missing for four days now and we want her to come home.

“We have a possible sighting of her in West Quay. We are keeping an open mind at this stage as to whether this is Charlotte or not and urge anyone who thinks they may have seen her to come forward.

"Were you shopping in West Quay on Wednesday lunchtime? Did you see Charlotte in the area around that time?

“If so, please contact us as you could have information which may prove vital to this investigation.

“I would also directly appeal to Charlotte to get in touch. You are not in trouble, people are worried about you and we just need to know you are safe.

"If you are one of Charlotte's friends and you know where she is or have seen her in the last few days then please contact us with any information you have so we can find her safe and well."

Hampshire Chronicle:

Charlotte is described as having brown eyes, being of a medium build and with dyed, collar length hair, which is red and brown.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting 44150415338