The family of a 16-year-old who has been missing for more than a week have pleaded for her to “let someone know” she is safe.

Julia Skala left her house in south London at about 1pm on 8 January and has not been heard from since, with police increasingly concerned for her welfare.

Officers are “working around the clock” to track her down, the Met Police says, and has appealed for the public’s help.

Her family, from Mitcham, said Julia is “loved and missed terribly”.

“No matter what the reason was for you to leave, you aren’t in any kind of trouble and we just want to know you are safe,” they added.

“Please, just let someone know you are OK.”

She was last seen wearing a black North Face jacket, black trousers, white Nike trainers, and carrying a black Nike rucksack.

Police say they launched an investigation – which has included house-to-house inquiries and recovering CCTV – as soon as Julia’s mum reported her missing on the morning of 9 January.

The detective chief superintendent in charge of policing for Merton, Claire Kelland, said the force has gathered “hours of CCTV and doorbell footage” and spoken to “many people”.

“Julia has never been away from home for this long and obviously her family are extremely worried,” she added.

“While there is no evidence to suggest she has come to harm, we are growing increasingly concerned about her welfare.

“She did not take her mobile phone with her and there has been no activity on social media or known contact with her friends.

“We also do not believe she had a credit or travel card, or any cash when she left the house.”

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Julia, who lives in Mitcham, has links to Lambeth, Camden and Islington and it is possible she travelled to these places via public transport, police say.

Anyone with information should call police immediately on 999 quoting the reference 24MIS000879.

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