Police are becoming increasingly worried for the safety of a 13-year-old with a mental age of eight who went missing a week ago.

Kayleigh Raymond, who has learning difficulties, is from Dagenham, but was being fostered by a family in Westcliff when she disappeared.

Missing - Kayleigh Raymond

She was last seen on Thursday, January 30, at around 2.30pm, when she was taken on a shopping trip in Southend.

Detectives believe Kayleigh is being sheltered by someone who may have lured her away, but extensive inquiries in Dagenham and Southend have not led officers any closer to her whereabouts.

Sgt Tony Manze, of Leigh police, said: "It is now a week since Kayleigh was last seen.

"We believe she is with someone. It is unlikely she has been out in the bitterly cold weather we have had recently."

Kayleigh is 5ft 2in tall and chubby with very long, wavy auburn hair.

At the time she disappeared she was wearing black and white checked trousers, a black jacket and a black baseball cap with red trim.

Published Thursday, February 6, 2003

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