POLICE say they are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of a teenage girl who has been missing for five days.

Nadia Wright was last seen in Sunderland on Monday afternoon when she said she was planning to visit a friend.

However, the 13-year-old did not return home that night and police are now appealing for helping in tracing her.

Nadia, also known as Nadia Creighton, was dropped off at the junction of Hawthorn Avenue and Blind Lane, in Sunderland, around 3pm.

She said she was going to see a friend in Castletown, but failed to return to her Hawthorn Avenue home as planned that evening.

Nadia is described as white, 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build. She has shoulder length dark brown hair which she wears in a pony tail.

When last seen she was wearing a grey vest, black brown leather knee high boots. She was carrying a small purple holdall-style sports bag with studs and was wearing a multicoloured scarf.

Chief Inspector Jerry Pearson, from Sunderland Area Command, said: "We are becoming concerned for Nadia's welfare, not only because of her age, but also because she hasn't been seen since Monday.

"We have been and are continuing to carry out extensive enquiries to trace Nadia.

"We have been speaking to those connected to her and searching areas we know she goes to.

"We want to ensure Nadia's safe return and would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen her, been contacted by her or who knows where she is to come forward.

"I'd also ask Nadia herself to please get in touch with someone who can let us know she's safe."

The teenager is known to frequent the Castletown area of Sunderland and also Gateshead.

Anyone who knows of Nadia's whereabouts or who thinks they may have seen her is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 1112 16/12/13.