Search for young runaways

The families of two lovestruck young runaways today made an emotional appeal for them to come home.

Natasha Phillips, 12, and 14-year-old Ashley Lamprey have been missing for two days after secretly plotting to elope after a whirlwind holiday romance in Greece.

Both sets of parents spoke for the first time today, choking back tears as they pleaded for their children to get in touch.

Ashley's mother, Karen Lamprey, said Natasha was her son's first love and that he "absolutely worships" her.

But she feared for both the children's safety as they have very little money and barely a change of clothes. Appealing directly to Ashley, she said: "I just want you to ring home, either us or grandma or grandad. I know it's going to be hard for you but we need you to be brave, to make this one contact. Then we've got you home safe, where you belong."

Mrs Lamprey said of her son: "He's a home bird, he's not streetwise. He doesn't even go out at night, he's at home with us during the week and spends the weekends with his grandparents."

She said the relationship became serious soon after the couple met on the island of Cephalonia in June. "They called each other every day as many times as they could and went down to the Isle of Wight to see her. He absolutely worshipped her. He really loved her."

Natasha's stepfather George Clark said the pair could keep seeing each other after they came home.

"We've heard nothing at all. Some news would be good news but we've had nothing, which has been tough. We don't know where they are - at least knowing that would be a relief. It's just terrible. We just want them both home so that we can put this all behind us. They can stay together."

Natasha's mother, Michelle Clark said she had thought the romance would be over quickly. "We thought this would just be puppy love and that it would fizzle out."

She added that the youngster was a model pupil and had given no inkling anything was wrong at home or school.

"We never had any concerns with Natasha before. She's a sensible young girl who's never been in trouble.

"She has always been really good at school and her last report was the best one she had ever had. There was no indication there had been any problems."

Natasha and Ashley's disappearance has sparked a major police search. Officers said they were following up 20 sightings and there is a possibility they could be in London.

Natasha disappeared at 7am on Tuesday from her home on the Isle of Wight, leaving a note for her family saying she loved them. Ashley went missing the same morning from his home in Ackworth, West Yorkshire.

It is thought the couple had agreed to rendezvous in Northampton after they vowed to "be together". Inspector John Barrett, of West Yorkshire Police, said concern was mounting for the youngsters. "Because of their ages we are desperately concerned about their safety. We would hope that they would contact their parents or the police as soon as posssible.

"We've had calls from all over England, and even one from Northern Ireland, and as far as we are concerned they could be anywhere."

He added that part of the difficulty in tracing them is that the pair resemble ordinary teenagers.

"The girl certainly looks about 15 or 16. It does not look like there is a big age difference between them."

Hampshire police have put credits on the pair's mobile phones so they can make contact with their parents.

Martial arts enthusiast Ashley, an only child, visited the Isle of Wight for a week last month and stayed with Natasha and her parents. She had been due to visit Yorkshire in October.

Natasha is 5ft 8in tall, slim and has shoulder-length dark brown hair with blonde highlights. It was thought she had a black holdall and a pink hooded top with her.

Ashley is said to be 5ft 10in tall, slim, with short spiky blond hair. He had a black hooded top with him.