Extra police join search for girl

Police said Rosemary left home after a family argument

Extra police officers have been brought in to join in the search for a missing 15-year-old girl in Hampshire.

Rosemary Edwards left her family home in Wellington Close, Dibden Purlieu, after an argument on Tuesday night.

A land, air and sea search failed to find her and so "a substantial number of officers with investigative skills" have been drafted in to help.

The search is now focussing on Hythe after two people reported a possible sighting of her in the Butts Ash area.

Family and friends of Rosemary have posted messages on a local newspaper website pleading with her to come home.

Police said the teenager had never left home before but has been described as being in a distressed state after a family discussion ended in disagreement.

Supt Barry Talbot said: "We are growing increasingly concerned for this young girl as there has been no contact from her at all since Tuesday evening.

Witness appeal

"What we really need is members of the public to support us in trying to trace Rosemary, particularly anyone who has seen anyone matching her description in the wider area of the New Forest.

"The A326 is a busy main road used by tanker drivers and staff at the Fawley Oil Refinery.

"We would especially appeal to them to contact us if they saw anything, no matter how insignificant it may appear."

Rosemary appears to look older than 15. She is white, 5ft 9in (1.75m) tall with a slim build.

She is thought to have been wearing blue jeans, a horizontally striped pattern top with turquoise and light blue stripes and blue ankle shoes with a white flower pattern.

Her dark blonde hair falls to about four inches above her waist and is either worn loose or in a loose braid.