THE distraught mother of a missing 13-year-old schoolgirl is pleading with her daughter to let the family know she is safe.

Bubbly Samantha Devenney, of Sweyne Road, Swanscombe, near Gravesend, had been out with friends on Sunday, June 12, before her disappearance.

Sammy, as the 13-year-old likes to be called, had spent the day with friends at a barbecue. The teenager, a pupil at Swan Valley Community School, returned home at about 5pm for something to eat and told her grandmother she was visiting more friends but would be back by 7.30pm.

The last person to see her was her best friend, at about 7.15pm, in Gunn Road.

Sammy's mother, Gina, 30, said: “I want her to know she is not in trouble but everyone is missing her and we just want her to call.”

She added: “Her brothers and sister can feel the tension in the air and her sister Chloe keeps asking where Samantha has gone.”

There have been unconfirmed sightings of Sammy in Bluewater and Lewisham.

She is 5ft 2in, medium build, with dark brown hair and an olive complexion. She has brown eyes with a small scar under one.

The teenager was wearing navy tracksuit trousers with a white stripe down both legs and a navy and white tracksuit top and round gold earrings.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Steve Mannerings at Gravesend Police Station on 01474 565007.