Police have released new CCTV footage showing the latest confirmed sighting of missing 13-year-old Lillia as the desperate search for the teenager enters a second week.
Greater Manchester Police said Lillia was seen at Manchester Piccadilly bus station at 10.36am on Monday, September 14.
The sighting is now the last confirmed trace of the youngster, who has been missing since leaving her family home in Bolton.
Officers are continuing to explore every possible line of enquiry as the search extends across Greater Manchester.
Latest sighting revealed
The newly released CCTV image shows Lillia at Manchester Piccadilly bus station after she travelled into the city centre.
Police said she had boarded the number 36 bus in Salford before getting off at Piccadilly.
The bus service travels from Bolton through Salford and into Manchester city centre.
Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, of GMP’s Bolton district, confirmed the development and said officers had been working through hours of CCTV footage as they tried to establish Lillia’s movements.
“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,” she said.
It is the fourth confirmed sighting of Lillia to have been made public since she disappeared.
Earlier that same morning, she had been seen boarding the number 36 bus in Salford.
Previous sightings
The latest development follows a series of sightings that have helped detectives piece together Lillia’s movements.
She was previously seen at around 8.20pm on Sunday, September 13, inside McDonald’s on Market Street in Piccadilly Gardens.
Before that, Lillia had been seen boarding the 247 bus at around 1.50pm on Saturday, September 12.
Police have now urged anyone who may have seen her to come forward, while also asking members of the public to check mobile phone footage that could contain images of the missing teenager.
Officers have been working through CCTV from across the area, while hundreds of missing-person leaflets have been distributed and repeated appeals have been shared on social media.
A large police advertising van has also been stationed around Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre, displaying information about Lillia and the search for her.
Mum’s heartbreaking plea
As the search continues, Lillia’s mother Jessica has made an emotional appeal for her daughter to return home safely.
“Lillia, you’re not in any trouble, I’m really, really worried,” she said.
“It’s been four nights now and you need to be safe. Please come home, we all love you very much.”
Chief Superintendent Critchley thanked the public and media for continuing to support the investigation and said the force remained focused on bringing Lillia home.
“Our thoughts continue to be with her family, and friends,” she said.
“I would like to thank her mum for her support with our appeals over the past few days. She has shown incredible strength throughout, and we are doing all we can to bring her daughter back home to her.”
She added that officers were “making every effort” to locate Lillia, with teams examining CCTV and pursuing every possible avenue.
Police appeal for information
Lillia is described as a slim white girl, around 5ft 5ins tall, with light brown hair and glasses.
When she was last seen, she was wearing a black zip-up hooded top, light blue baggy jeans and a black Nike backpack.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen Lillia, or who may have footage showing her movements, to contact them with any information that could assist the search.
The investigation now covers the whole of Greater Manchester, with officers across the force continuing to work alongside partner agencies in the urgent effort to find the missing teenager.