Steps appeal to missing girl

Danielle is said to be a dedicated fan of the group

Pop stars Steps have made an appeal to missing schoolgirl Danielle Jones to contact her family to let them know she is safe.

The 15-year-old from East Tilbury, Essex, is a big fan of the band and it is hoped she or someone who knows where she is may respond to the message.

There has been no sign of the teenager for 11 days after she went missing on her way to catch a school bus on Monday 18 June.

Essex Police are appealing for members of the public to help them make a large-scale search of local marshland at the weekend.

Danielle: Hopes are fading

The band - who also made an appeal for eight-year-old Sarah Payne after her disappearance last year - filmed the appeal in London during a magazine shoot.

Faye Tozer and Lee Latchford-Evans made the joint statement on behalf of the five band members.

"We know that Danielle is a big Steps fan and Essex police have asked us to help reunite her with her family," said Faye.

Band-mate Lee appealed directly to the teenager.

Danielle, if you hear this message, could be please contact your friends, family or the police as soon as you can

Lee, Steps

"So Danielle, if you hear this message, please contact your friends, family or the police as soon as you can.

"If anybody out there also has any information about Danielle, can you please contact the police immediately."

Assistant Chief Constable John Broughton said: "We are very grateful to Steps for their support and we hope that their appeal will bring a response from Danielle or someone who knows of her whereabouts."

Detectives are desperate for new leads in the hunt for Danielle, and say they are "very gravely concerned" for her safety.

Text message

Police have appealed for volunteers to help officers scour marshland at Coalhouse Fort, near East Tilbury, from 1000 BST on Saturday.

It emerged on Thursday that a text message was received from her mobile phone hours after she went missing.

Police refused to discuss the message and would not speculate on who sent it or who it was received by.

Police have mounted an internet appeal

The last positive sighting of Danielle came when two boys from her school St Clere's secondary school in Stanford-le-Hope, saw her walking towards the bus stop.

A girl matching her description was then seen getting into a dark blue Transit-type van, apparently "without hesitation".

Several hours later a text message believed to be from her mobile was received.

Man bailed

Danielle's parents Linda, 41, and Tony, 40, have appealed for help in finding their daughter.

Children at St Clere's have also been urged to contact police if they have any information.

Danielle - who lives with her parents and younger brother - is 5ft 7in, slim, with blue eyes and long blonde hair and a brace on her teeth.

On Monday morning Essex Police released a man from Thurrock, Essex, whom they had been holding on suspicion of abduction.

The man, who is in his early 40s, was freed on police bail until 22 August.