Manchester teenager missing for eight days found ‘safe and well’ by police

A Manchester teenager missing for eight days has been found “safe and well” by police.

Lillia, 13, disappeared after leaving her family home in Bolton on Friday 11 September, sparking a major search for the teenager.

Earlier on Saturday (19 September) Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers trawling CCTV in the hunt for Lillia have identified a further sighting of her at Manchester Piccadilly bus station at 10.36am on Monday 14 September.

This followed a previous sighting earlier that morning, when the missing girl was seen boarding the number 36 bus from Salford before getting off in Manchester city centre.

In a statement released on Saturday evening, GMP thanked people for sharing its appeal and said: “We can confirm that she has been found safe and well in the city centre.

“She is currently with our officers, and her next-of-kin have been informed of this update. We will release more information in due course.”

The 13-year-old’s mother made a tearful appeal for her daughter to come home on Friday.

She said: "Lill, I love you so so much.

"My heart is breaking without you here. I need to know you are safe. We all you need back home safe and well."

Police previously identified a sighting of Lillia at the Trafford Centre last Saturday (12 September), saying she caught a bus from there towards Altrincham.

She was seen at a McDonald's in Piccadilly Gardens the following day, before being pictured boarding a bus from Salford to Manchester last Monday morning.