The family of a 24-year-old woman who has been missing for nine days have released a heartbreaking plea for help.

Leah Daley, from Folkestone, was last seen at The Warren along the town’s coast at 7pm on May 5.

Since then a huge effort has been launched to locate her - including police appeals, a rapidly growing Facebook group called Leah’s Search and the circulating of the hashtag #findleahdaley.

Today, her family has released a statement.

It reads: “Our youngest Leah went missing nine days ago on Sunday, May 5, and has not been found.

“For Leah not to have returned home without notifying the family, or any of her friends, is totally out of character.

“Since her disappearance we continue to work alongside the police but have had no significant updates.”

She was last seen at the bottom of a concrete path leading from the Martello Tower at The Warren - a local beauty spot with woodland walks, chalk grassland and sea views.

An organised search of the area is taking place today.

The statement continues: “A lover and frequent walker of The Warren since childhood, Leah is familiar with the routes and surrounding areas.

“Extensive searches of sea and land have shown no trace of Leah.

“No additional information, sightings, CCTV or personal items have been recovered since the busy bank holiday Sunday densely populated with campers, large groups, fishermen, and dog walkers when she went missing.

“People do not just vanish.

“Please come forward and contact the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant.

“Please refrain from speculation and rumour as it will only hinder the search.”

Two CCTV images have been released of Leah by police, who are growing concerned for her welfare.

They show her walking in Tontine Street in the town centre wearing a dark green Parka coat, patterned leggings, black and white Converse trainers, a black Adidas backpack with her hair pinned in a bun.

The young woman is described as being around five feet and four inches tall, with brown shoulder-length hair and blue eyes.

Her family added: “We thank everybody for their support and assistance over the last nine days, especially Leah's friends and the local community who have devoted time, effort and resources to find her.

“In the face of our suffering, we vow as family to keep going until Leah is found.

“On behalf of Leah we thank you all.”

Anyone who has relevant information concerning Leah’s whereabouts is urged to call 999 quoting reference 06-1197.