Published at 15:44, Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Police are “really worried” for the safety of a teenage mum and her six-month-old son who have been missing since Wednesday of last week.

Catalina Covaci, 15, left home in Penrith telling her guardians that she was going into the town centre.

She was took her son Ricardi but neither has been seen since.

Ms Covaci is originally from Romania and has been in Cumbria for a year and a half.

She has family and associates in Manchester, Oldham, Glasgow, Hull and London.

Police believe that she boarded a train from Penrith to Manchester and may have travelled on to Oldham.

They are particularly keen to establish whether Ms Covaci and her son were travelling with anyone else and are appealing to witnesses to come forward.

Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir, who is co-ordinating the search, said: “We are really worried about the welfare of Catalina due to her age, the fact she has her son with her and has very little money.

“She is vulnerable due to her age and we need to ensure her and her son are both okay.

“There is a suggestion she may have been trying to contact some connections she has in Manchester or the Oldham area or may even be attempting to leave the country.

“She is not in any trouble – we just need to make sure she is safe and well.

“We are confident that somebody out there knows where she is or will have information that can help us trace her. Please, if you know anything, come forward.”

Ms Covaci is described as having very long straight hair, dyed red, which she often wears in a bun.

She is of slim build and was last seen wearing a leopard-print skirt, fake-leather coat and black boots.

However, police believe she took a change of clothes for herself and Ricardi.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk