Police confirm fresh sighting of missing Manchester teenager as search ramps up

Police have confirmed a new sighting of a missing teenage girl from Manchester who was last seen more than a week ago.

Lillia, 13, disappeared after leaving her family home in Bolton on Friday 11 September, sparking a major search for the teenager.

In an update on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers trawling CCTV in the hunt for Lillia have identified a further sighting of her at Manchester Piccadilly bus station at 10.36am on Monday 14 September.

This follows a previous sighting earlier that morning, when the missing girl was seen boarding the number 36 bus from Salford before getting off in Manchester city centre.

The force made said its officers are making “every effort to locate Lillia” following an emotional plea from her mother, who told her: "Lill, I love you so so much.

"My heart is breaking without you here. I need to know you are safe. We all you need back home safe and well."

Lillia is described as white, slim, around 5ft 5in, with light brown hair. She also wears glasses.

She was spotted on board the number 247 bus at the Trafford Centre at approximately 1.50pm on 12 September, and then the next day inside the McDonald’s branch on Market Street, near Piccadilly Gardens, at around 8.20pm.

Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley of GMP’s Bolton district said the force are doing “all we can” to bring Lillia home to her mother.

“Officers are making every effort to locate Lillia, and our team have been working through hours of CCTV footage and exploring every avenue to try and find her,” said.

“I can now confirm that our last known current sighting was of Lillia at Manchester Piccadilly bus station at 10.36am on the morning on Monday 14 September.

“We can also share that she exited the number 36 bus as Piccadilly, with her boarding it in Salford. That bus service travels from Bolton through Salford and into Manchester city centre.

“If anyone has any information regarding Lillia’s whereabouts or movements from this bus – or you were on the bus at the time she was also on there or when she got on in Salford or off in Piccadilly – please contact us via 101 or the Major Incident Portal below.

“We are also still keen to hear from anyone who may have been in Piccadilly Gardens on Sunday 13 September around 8.20pm, or saw her in McDonald’s at that time.”

She confirmed the last confirmed sighting of Lillia was on 14 September and said the force is “mindful” that the 13-year-old could have travelled outside of the Manchester area.

“If you have any information that could help us find Lillia, I would urge you to come forward. Her family just want her home. Please report any information, no matter how small, via our dedicated Major Incident Portal link.

“You can also submit information anonymously via Crimestoppers who are available on 0800 555 111. They will not ask for your details and no one will know you have contacted them.”