Girl missing for seven weeks

Police are becoming increasingly concerned about Charlene

Police in Lancashire are stepping up their search for a teenager who has not been seen for seven weeks.

Charlene Downes, 14, was last seen leaving her home on Buchanan Street in Blackpool, in the early hours of 1 November.

Her mother Karen is urging her daughter to come home for Christmas.

More than 30 officers are dedicated to the search for her and an incident room has been set up in Blackpool.

Charlene has not gone missing before and her family say they can think of no reason why she would be staying away intentionally.

She left home saying she was going with friends to the Carousel bar on the resort's North Pier.

Lancashire Police said on Tuesday they were becoming increasingly concerned for Charlene's safety.

She is white, 5ft 1in tall, slim with straight shoulder-length brown hair.