Coastguards join Charlotte hunt

Charlotte Pinkney: Did not contact her family on her birthday

North Devon coastguards have joined the search for a teenage girl who has been missing for 11 days.

The move came as police appealed for two teenage witnesses who helped to move a red car to come forward.

Charlotte Pinkney, 17, from Ilfracombe, disappeared after being dropped off near a friend's house after a party.

She was last seen on Saturday, 28 February, after the party at the Slade Road Community Centre. She has made no contact with family or friends since.

The two young people being sought may have helped push a red Vauxhall Cavalier from mud in the Slade Valley area of Ilfracombe early on the morning she went missing.

Footage examined

The car is now being examined by police officers.

Coastguard teams from Ilfracombe, Morte Hoe and Lynmouth are searching the coastline from Ilfracombe to Lee Bay.

An RAF Chivenor helicopter has joined the search

About 60 police are searching reservoirs and woodland in the Slade Valley.

A search and rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor is also being utilised.

Officers are also examining CCTV footage taken in the town centre.

Posters with details of the youngster have been put up in shop windows around Ilfracombe. Prayers are being said in local churches.

Police have again urged Charlotte to get in contact with them, but said a lack of sightings was causing growing concern.

Birthday silence

The officer in charge of the investigation, Superintendent Steve Matthews, said: "We will be continuing the searches within the Slade area.

"Officers have been engaged in searches in land around the reservoir, and in particular the cycle track area."

Ms Pinkney, who had been living with a boyfriend in Ilfracombe, is 5ft 2in, with long, dark brown waist length hair.

She was last seen wearing a cream leather thigh length coat, black T-shirt and beige checked trousers.

She was reported missing by her parents last Thursday. Concern for her heightened when she failed to make contact with her parents on her birthday.

Her parents appeared at a police news conference in Exeter on Monday to appeal for her to get in touch and for anyone with information to come forward.