Police are appealing for assistance in tracing a 12-year-old girl who went missing in New Addington on Friday afternoon.

Tia Sharp was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington at around 12.00hrs (midday) on Friday 3 August.

Tia said she was going to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon town centre.

She is white, of slim build, 4ft 5 in tall and was wearing glasses. She was last seen wearing a yellow bandeau top over a white bra with visible cross straps, light grey leopard-skinned leggings and black and pink Nike high top trainers.

It is totally out of character for Tia to go missing. It is believed she had a small amount of cash with her but no Zip card (Oyster) and she did not have her mobile phone.

She is known to frequent the Croydon, Mitcham and Wimbledon areas.

A Press Conference with Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola and David Sharp, 28, maternal uncle of Tia took place on Monday 6th August at New Scotland Yard. Also present were two close family friends, Mark Havers and Steven Sabine. David, Mark and Steven were all wearing white appeal tee shirts.

David Sharp appealed for Tia to return: "Tia please come home. You are not in trouble - please call us or call the police. I would like to thank the police and the public - everyone is doing everything they can. Please don't stop."

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola from Specialist Crime and Operations said: "We are releasing a CCTV image of Tia from Thursday 2 August - the day before she was last seen. The image is from the Co-op store in Featherbed Lane, Addington, at around 1615.

"We know Tia travelled there part way on a tram by herself, and then met her grandmother's partner at East Croydon station. The image shows her wearing a yellow vest top with an image of an animal on the front - possibly of a cat or dog, her tight faded jeans, and Ugg boots. We believe she was wearing the top and jeans when she went missing - but not the Ugg boots - we know she was wearing black Nike trainers with a pink tick when she left her grandmother's address.

"We have had a good response to our appeals. We have had some 55 reported sightings of Tia, although none of these have been substantiated. Searches are continuing in the area around Tia's grandmother's address. CCTV is being collated and viewing continues.

"We know Tia was at her grandmother's house and slept late on the morning of Friday 3 August. She then left to get the bus. She told her grandmother's partner she was going out. He was the last person to see her, that we are aware of at this time.

"We have recovered a number of items but we now know that they do NOT belong to Tia.

David Sharp added: "Tia is a normal 12 year old girl. She has never run away before. She is playful but is clued up when it comes to travelling and knowing her local area. "

Anyone who has seen Tia or knows of her whereabouts should call Merton Police on 101 (quoting reference 12MIS025216); or Missing People on 116 000

August 10, 2012