The parents of a young Teddington schoolgirl have joined police in a desperate search for their daughter who disappeared 12 days ago.

They have been visiting 13-year-old Joanna Conroys favourite spots in Teddington where she was last seen with two girls on Sunday, October 21.

Police said the schoolgirl was particularly vulnerable because of her young age and have appealed to her friends to come forward with any information.

Joanna told her mother she was going shopping in Kingston on the afternoon of Sunday, October 14, and, as the Comet went to press, has not been back to her East Molesey home since.

It is not the first time Joanna has gone missing without warning and she is believed to be experiencing problems at school.

Police are making widespread enquiries and are launching a poster campaign to try and find her.

They described her parents as very distressed and anxious to let their daughter know that whatever the problem, it can be worked out.

Officers are particularly anxious to speak to friends of Joanna who may be looking after her.

One friend contacted her parents this week after spotting Joanna on a bus with two girls in Teddington last Sunday.

Joanna is of medium build, 5ft 4ins tall, with shoulder-length light brown hair. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a grey hooded Gap jacket, navy Adidas tracksuit bottoms with white stripes and grey Reebok trainers.

Joanna attends Teddington Secondary School in Broom Road and is thought to be somewhere in the Teddington, Twickenham or Hampton areas.

Joannas parents are also making their own searches and are in regular daily contact with the police.

A police spokesman said: We are doing all we can to find Joanna because shes very young and vulnerable.

We would ask any friends who are allowing Joanna to stay to at least let her family or police know shes alright.

Richmond education spokesman Councillor Stephen Knight said: The local authority is keen to work with the parents and the school to do the best for this child and we hope very much she will come home as soon as possible.

Anyone with information regarding Joannas disappearance should phone PC Simon Bate at Esher Police on 01372 471212.

By.Shirin Aguiar