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Hoping Charlene is home for Christmas
THE devastated family of a missing Blackpool teenager are hoping for a Christmas miracle.
Charlene Downes' mum and dad are still clinging to the hope that their daughter, who disappeared more than two years ago, will come home for Christmas.
Charlene was 14 when she was last seen, on November 1, 2003, and a national TV programme showed her family's heartbreak to millions yesterday.
BBC One's Missing retraced the last known steps of the St George's High School pupil and spoke to mum Karen, dad Robert and gran Lena Brock about the pain the family have been going through since Charlene disappeared.
After watching herself on TV, Mrs Downes said: "I just hope for a miracle this Christmas and want Charlene to come home or just let us know she is safe."
The programme, which hopes to reunite families with missing relatives, showed Charlene's story for around 15 minutes, visiting the places she was known to go and talking to the detective behind the search, Det Supt Paul Buschini.
The Downes family are now hoping that one phone call which puts their minds at rest is not far away.
Mrs Downes continued: "All it would take is a quick phone call and then we would know what has happened. Someone out there knows but they are not saying.
"I cannot give up hope that, one day, Charlene will be back with us. Until I know different, I will never give up.
"I have bought her Christmas presents as I do every year just in case she decides to come back.
"We wanted the appeal to go right across the country from day one and the National Missing Persons Helpline have done a lot but now, finally, we have got the coverage on TV. I just hope it is not too late and that whoever out there, who knows something, was watching and will make that call."
Mr Downes added: "We just want Charlene home with us. We will get through Christmas the best we can but without her it will be difficult."
Det Supt Buschini, who has been leading the investigation into the teenager's disappearance since day one, said: "Although we have had no recent sightings, each and every sighting we get is investigated as thoroughly as possible.
"People are still being interviewed and certain individuals are still subject to specific inquiries."
Mrs Downes and her daughter walked from the family home in Buchanan Street to Church Street in the town centre at around 7pm on the day Charlene went missing.
The teenager kissed her mum goodbye and set off towards the Promenade to meet a friend. She has not been seen since.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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