Missing student 'visiting the homeless'

Victoria Stephenson was last seen leaving her campus

Police say a missing Manchester student told friends she was going to interview homeless people for her course.

Victoria Stephenson, 19, has not been seen since Tuesday afternoon and detectives are growing increasingly concerned for her safety.

She left the Manchester Metropolitan University campus in Didsbury at about 1230 GMT to get a bus on Wilmslow Road into the city centre.

Vicky, who lives in halls of residence in Daisy Bank Road, Longsight, is originally from West Norwood, London.

The alarm was raised after she failed to meet her friend at 1600 GMT in the All Saints Building near the city's university area.

She also did not return to her halls of residence in the evening.

'Against advice'

Detective Superintendent Peter Minshall said: "We do not know for certain if Vicky ever made it to the city centre, although she told friends she was intending to go there as part of her coursework and interview members of the homeless community.

"We do not believe Vicky has simply run away as this type of behaviour is completely out of character as she has made a number of close friends since joining the university and stays in regular contact with them via a mobile phone."

Det Supt Minshall said Vicky had been operating against university advice and travelled alone.

He added: "As part of her course ... she had to complete a project in which she had to find an individual aged over 50 who had had a full life.

"We believe it was her intention to speak to someone who is homeless."

'Out of character'

A spokesman for Manchester Metropolitan University, where Vicky is studying applied community studies, said she is a well-liked student.

He said: "Fingers-crossed she will turn up safely. But we are extremely concerned because it is a sudden disappearance which is totally out of character."

Several of Vicky's friends and family have travelled to Manchester where they are being supported by police family liaison officers.

Vicky, is white, 5ft tall, of medium build with short brown hair cut in a bob and a nose piercing.

She has a southern accent and was last seen wearing jeans and a knee-length maroon leather jacket.