The worried mum of a missing schoolgirl who has now been missing for nearly 36 hours fears her daughter has run away with a boy she met on Snapchat.
Police have said they are "very concerned" for the safety of Caitlin Wright, 14, who was last seen near a Primark at around 11.30am on Sunday.
The teen was out shopping with family at Coopers Square in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, when she left with a friend to go to Primark and told a pal that she was catching a train to Birmingham.
Caitlin's mum, Claire Keight, told BirminghamLive that her daughter has "never gone missing before", adding: "We just want her home. We are worried sick."
The distraught mother said her daughter had met a boy on Snapchat and fears she may be being held 'against her will'.
Have you been affected by this story? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk.
Claire, 37, said: "We'd played Twister on Saturday night and she was fine and were talking about going shopping on Sunday, she was really excited.
"On Sunday morning we both got up early and she asked me to transfer her Christmas money of £37 into her account which I did.
"When we went into town she took £30 out in cash and just went off.
"All we know is she took a train to Birmingham.
"Her friends told us she'd met a boy of around the same age on Snapchat and was going to run away with him.
"She has £7 in her account and she's in Birmingham. We have no idea where she is or who's with. We don't even know if she's being held against her will.
"She suffers from anxiety and panic attacks."
"We are getting all these details drip fed from her friends or kids," Claire added.
"I actually found out the name of the boy she was supposed to be meeting and called him.
"He was just a kid and confirmed he knew where she was but wouldn't say if he had met her.
"Her friends said she was going to Birmingham to run away with this online boyfriend we knew nothing about.
"We're all frantic and I'm just crying all the time.
"Caitlin has never done anything like this before. She's a good kid and we had a really lovely Christmas. I just want her home safe."
The teen's family reported her missing to Derbyshire Police later on Sunday when she failed to return home and her friend revealed her plans to travel about 30 miles to Birmingham.
Ms Keight said the family, including her husband and 13-year-old son, are praying for her to return home safe and well.
She told how they are beside themselves with worry as she made a direct plea to her missing daughter.
The mum said: "She's a good girl, she's never been in trouble and has never gone missing before.
"She's doing well at school, but is a quiet and nervous girl, and that's why we're worried."
Caitlin vanished while the whole family was shopping in Burton town centre.
Ms Keight said: "Caitlin was with her friend and they said they wanted to go to Primark to spend some of their Christmas money.
"We have since found out that when they got to Primark Caitlin told her friend that she was catching a train to Birmingham.
"The friend didn't tell us this until later on Sunday and that's when we called police."
In a statement, Derbyshire Police said: "We’re very concerned for the safety of missing Derbyshire teenager Caitlin Wright who was last seen in Burton town centre [Sunday] morning.
"Caitlin who is 14, was last seen near to Primark, in Coopers Square at around 11.30am.
"It is thought that Caitlin may have travelled to Birmingham."
Caitlin is white, of medium build and has long blonde hair.
She was wearing a red, white and blue hoodie, black jogging bottoms, a black bandana as a head band, and white trainers when she was last seen.
The teenager also wears a black nose ring.
Anyone who has seen Caitlin, or knows of her whereabouts, is asked to contact Derbyshire Police on 101, or through social media channels such as Twitter or Facebook.
Reference number 682 of Sunday, December 29, should be quoted.
An anonymous report can be made through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
