Greater Manchester Police have issued an urgent public appeal to help locate a 15-year-old schoolgirl who vanished in Dukinfield in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The teenager, identified by officers as Scarlett, was last seen at around 1.05am on Sunday on Tennyson Avenue in the Tameside area of Greater Manchester.

Officers have released an image of Scarlett wearing her school uniform as part of their efforts to trace her, circulating the photograph and her details across social media.

Police have openly stated that they are becoming "increasingly concerned" about her welfare following her disappearance during the night.

If you were in the Dukinfield area around that time or are familiar with the neighbourhood, police are asking you to keep an eye out for anyone matching her description.

Scarlett is described by officers as a white female, approximately 5ft 8in tall, and of an average build.

She has long, blonde and copper hair, wears glasses, and has two piercings in each of her ears.

When she was last seen on Tennyson Avenue, Scarlett was wearing a brown faux leather jacket layered over a hoodie, along with a grey skirt and black tights.

What we don't know yet are the specific circumstances surrounding her disappearance, where she may have been heading after 1.05am, or if she has travelled beyond the immediate Tameside area.

Greater Manchester Police have asked anyone who spots Scarlett, or who holds any information that could assist in finding her, to get in touch with the force immediately.

Officers are continuing their inquiries to locate her, and any information provided by the public could prove crucial in establishing her whereabouts.

I'll be following this one — check back for updates.