Fears grow for missing Milly

Police are examining potentially crucial video footage which could shed light on the disappearance of schoolgirl Amanda Dowler.

The film was taken by security cameras on the office building of Birds Eye Wall's 100 metres from Walton-on-Thames station where Amanda was last seen.

The camera is positioned along the route that 13-year-old Amanda, known affectionately as Milly, would have taken to get home on Thursday afternoon, when she went missing. She was last seen walking along Station Approach towards Rydens Road on her way home.

Chris Dawson, 48, father of Amanda's best friend Cara, said: "The last time she was seen was right outside Birds Eye Wall's. Someone saw her from a bus. There was a lot of traffic and one second she was there then the next she was gone."

Birds Eye Wall's confirmed they have handed CCTV film to police. Officers are also conducting a fingertip search today at a building site a quarter of a mile from the schoolgirl's home. The area, near the main road, is covered with rubble from demolished houses and is about 50 square metres.

Meanwhile, the Dowler family are "still hoping for the best". Parents Bob and Sally Dowler and Amanda's sister Gemma are being comforted by friends and family at home.

A family spokesman said: "They are doing very well considering what they are going through. We are all staying positive."

The Dowler family, from Walton-on-Thames, yesterday made an emotional appeal for Amanda's safe return. They described her as "very special - a lovely daughter" and begged for news on her whereabouts.

Detectives leading the case have not ruled out linking Amanda's disappearance with the discovery at Hersham yesterday of a man's body on a railway line near her home. He has not been identified but is believed to have jumped in front of a train a mile from where Amanda was last seen.

Amanda got off the train from school to visit a railway cafÈ with friends and, before disappearing, had phoned her father at about 4pm to say she was on her way home.

Mrs Dowler, fighting back tears, said: "Milly, if you are watching or listening to this, mum, dad, Gemma, granny and all the family want you to know we really love you and miss you and we can't wait to have you back with us. This time last week we all had such a lovely time at the fun-run and you played your saxophone so brilliantly at the party afterwards."

Mrs Dowler, 42, a maths teacher at her daughter's school, added: "She is such a brilliant, intelligent girl who is very special to us. We couldn't wish for a lovelier daughter."

Mr Dowler, 50, an IT consultant, said: "We have a house rule for both our daughters that they will call us if they are going to be late home. Milly told me she was going to be about half an hour late. If I had been at all concerned about her safety I would have picked her up in the car."

Up to 120 local residents yesterday helped officers search for Amanda. Glyn Willoughby, principal at Heathside School in Weybridge, where Amanda studies, said the entire community was working together to find her. Speaking last night, Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gibson said: "We are growing increasingly concerned for her whereabouts. It is completely out of character for her to go missing."

Trees and phone boxes along the route to Amanda's home have been covered with appeal posters. Music fan Amanda went to see Will Young perform two days before her disappearance. The Pop Idol winner last night begged her to return home, saying: "Amanda, please go home or contact your family. They're missing you and are very worried."

The teenager is described as 5ft tall, slim with shoulderlength brown hair. She was last seen wearing her school uniform of dark blue blazer, grey skirt, and white shirt and carrying a beige rucksack. Anyone with information should phone 01372 471212.