Friend appeals for Amanda's return

Danielle Sykes was with Amanda before she vanished

A close friend of missing Surrey schoolgirl Amanda Dowler has made an appeal for her to return home.

Danielle Sykes was with Amanda, known as Milly, in the cafe in Walton-on-Thames train station minutes before she disappeared.

At a press conference on Wednesday the 14-year-old said: "I love you Milly and want you back with us."

The schoolgirl went missing on her way home from school on 21 March and despite extensive searches no trace of her has yet been found.

Amanda may have left with someone she knew

Danielle said: "Milly, you mean so much to so many people, you always manage to make me smile if I'm down, you are always there for me if I want to talk.

"Please get in contact with someone, I have my mobile on so any time soon please call.

"No-one is angry with you and we all just want you to return home."

Earlier it was announced a giant poster of the missing teenager would be put on both sides of a Ford delivery lorry in the hope someone will recognise her.

Her face will also be screened on televisions at petrol station forecourts across the country.

Search widens

Police investigating the disappearance have examined Milly's mobile phone and email records in case she ran away with someone she met on the web.

Detectives say there was no evidence of a struggle and it is possible she may have left with someone she knew.

They are also using information from CCTV footage, aerial photographs and items taken from the family home to build up a profile of Amanda.

Detectives have widened their search for the teenager to include the whole of the Walton-on-Thames area.

A police spokesperson said: "We are keeping a very open mind as to the reasons behind Amanda's disappearance."

Despite more than 1,000 calls to the incident room in Surrey, police have found no trace of Amanda.

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Twenty extra officers were put on the case at the weekend to cope with the public response generated by recent appeals for information.

As well as her phone Milly was carrying a beige rucksack, a white plastic purse with a heart in the top right hand corner, and a pencil case when she disappeared.

Police have also searched the teenager's home with the consent of her parents Sally and Bob.

Their other daughter, 16-year-old sister Gemma, has made an appeal to anyone who may have abducted her sister.

"If someone has taken Milly, please return her safely to us as I am missing her very much and I couldn't wish for a lovelier sister," she wrote.