Fears for missing schoolgirl last seen in Handsworth on Saturday

Fears are growing tonight as police launch an urgent appeal to trace a missing schoolgirl who was last seen in the Handsworth area of Birmingham on Saturday (1 May).

Thi Khanh Ly Duong, aged 17, was reported missing by staff at her private boarding school in Staffordshire.

Thi, also known as Ly, is from Vietnam but her guardians live in Handsworth.

Police believe that she left Asda on Avon Road, Cannock just before 6.30pm on Saturday afternoon and was picked up by a taxi outside the store at around 6.45pm.

She was later dropped off in Holly Road, near to Grove Lane in Handsworth  and vanished without trace.

The teenager has has not been seen or heard from since that time.

The missing teenager is described as 5ft tall and slim with long black hair and was last seen wearing light jeans and a light coloured hoody with a black jacket over the top, Nike flip flops and a large black handbag.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police issued a statement saying officers are ‘deeply concerned’ for the safety of the schoolgirl and are urging members of the public to immediately ‘call 999 if you see her’. Anyone with information that could help in tracing the missing teenager is requested to contact the police with the details.