Missing girl 'spotted in South'

Paige went missing last August

Police from Lancashire are following up possible sightings of missing schoolgirl Paige Chivers.

The 16-year-old walked out of her family home in Bispham, Blackpool, on 23 August last year after a row.

Several people contacted police to say they may have seen Paige in the Croydon and south coast areas after an appeal was broadcast on a BBC programme.

One woman said she saw a girl matching Paige's description, with the same "Playgirl" tattoo on her neck.

Officers from Lancashire have travelled to London after the viewer of BBC One's Missing Live programme reported the possible sighting.

She saw the girl going into McDonald's in the High Street in Sutton, near Croydon, accompanied by a black man aged in his thirties.

I must stress that we are not getting excited as these sightings are from people who don't know Paige and have never met her Det Supt Kevin Toole Lancashire Police

This possible sighting could have been anytime between 31 March and 15 April this year, said Lancashire Police.

Det Supt Kevin Toole, who is leading the investigation, said: "National TV publicity has generated a small cluster of potential sightings which will be investigated and scrutinised in detail.

"However, I must stress that we are not getting excited as these sightings are from people who don't know Paige and have never met her.

"We are now in the process of studying CCTV footage but are keeping an open mind.

"It's a positive response and shows people are still interested and still trying to come forward and help, which is encouraging."

Paige is white, 5ft 5in, medium build, with shoulder length blonde hair with dark streaks of brown hair underneath.

She often wears gold hoop earrings and has two small sovereign rings.