A MUM is appealing for her missing 13-year-old daughter to get in touch.

Fears for the safety of Becky Molineux have grown since she disappeared 16 days ago.

Now, her mother Gillian Molineux is making a desperate plea for information in a bid to trace Becky.

Becky, who attends Sharples School, left the family home in Wealdstone Grove,Tonge Moor, following an argument with her mother.

But the teenager, who has a history of running away from home, has never been missing for such a long period.

The police are also trying to find the teenager.

Miss Molineux, aged 42, said: "I can't sleep, I can't eat and am having panic attacks.

"I have images of her dead in a gutter or I will find her working on Shiffnall Street."

Miss Mollineux, who also has an 18-year-old son, Lee, said her daughter changed after Christmas when she fell in with an older crowd and started skipping school and hanging about in Victoria Square, Bolton. She added: "She was picked on because she had red hair and was quite big, but she made a friend and I encouraged her to go out.

"I would pick her up and bring her back.

"But then she became involved with an older group and a boy who was 17. She totally changed, and stopped being my Becky. She started to run away but always came back. This time I haven't heard anything. I have looked and looked.

"I am worried about what she is having to do find a bed for the night," said distraught Miss Mollineux.

She added: "I just want her to get in touch. I love her dearly and want her back safely and for her to go on and fulfil her ambitions of becoming a forensic scientist. All the argument was about was me asking her to go to school and come back at a reasonable time like any parent wants. I want her to come back so we can be best friends again like we were."

Miss Mollineux pleaded: "If anyone knows where she is please get in touch with the police."

Call police on 0161 872 5050.