Teenage girl who 'walked into sea and disappeared' is found safe and well

Blackpool police made a plea for information about the missing 17-year-old on Monday after it was reported that she had gone into the water near North Pier and had not been seen since.

Emergency services including the coastguard had been called to the area at around 4.20am that day and an extensive search of the coast was carried out, but nobody was found.

A public appeal was posted online - but just a few hours later, the reportedly missing girl approached the police.

A Blackpool police spokesman said: “Good news! Earlier (on Monday) we asked for your help locating a teenager who had reportedly walked into the sea at Blackpool.

“We can confirm she has now spoken to officers and is safe and well.

“We would like to thank everybody who contacted us with information an shared the appeal.”

Also thanking people for sharing the missing persons appeal, a HM Fleetwood coastguard said: “Lancashire Police have announced that the girl they had concerns about has approached and contacted them.”