The mother of a pregnant teenager missing from her Heybridge home, has made an emotional plea for her to come home.

Melissa-Jane Rowe, 15, who is ten weeks pregnant, has not been seen since March 13 and is believed to be in London with her boyfriend.

Her mother Angeline Wright, 47, of Cedar Chase, said yesterday: "Please get in contact with someone, even a friend. Just someone to let us know things are all right.

"I just want her to come home. I'm sure that everything can be sorted out, whatever she wants."

Mrs Wright said Melissa was upset and angry after the two had an argument about her 16-year-old boyfriend.

She added: "I think she's gone off the rails a bit with this boy. She thinks he's something special.

"She's just confused. She's run away because she cannot face it."

Mrs Wright said Melissa had not even contacted her best friend since she vanished and her two younger brothers had taken her disappearance very hard.

She admitted she was unhappy about her daughter's pregnancy but had accepted it and said Melissa was prepared for the responsibility.

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed Melissa left Heybridge with a male friend who told officers that he dropped her off at Chelmsford railway station on the day she disappeared.

"The following day she telephoned her father from a phone box in the Brixton area and it is believed that is where she may now be living," he added.

But there has been no contact since and police are becoming concerned for the girls' welfare and that of her unborn child.

Melissa has blue eyes and is 5ft 2ins, with shoulder length mousey brown hair.

She was last seen wearing blue denim jeans, a white Georgio top, a three quarter length black leather coat plus white and orange Reebok trainers.

Anyone who has information about Melissa'a whereabouts should call Maldon police on 01621 852255.

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