POLICE say there is no evidence that three Chinese girls may have ended up in prostitution after they went missing.

Mei Fang Weng, 15, and 16-year-olds Xiu Ming Lin and Yun Jen He arrived in Newcastle from China, claiming asylum, on Sunday, March 27 .

They have not been seen or heard from since, leading to fears they may have been coerced into travelling to London and forced into prostitution.

But Detective Chief Inspector Jim Napier, of Northumbria Police, who is leading the hunt for them, said : "This is primarily a missing persons' inquiry and that is still how we are treating it.

"Our main concern is the welfare of these three girls and establishing they are safe and well.

"We know nothing about their movements prior to arriving in this country, although they are believed to be from the Sichuan and Hunan provinces.

"Newcastle appears to have been a transit city in which they stayed for just three days.

"While it is a concern these girls could end up being exploited, for example in prostitution, there is currently no evidence to suggest that is the case. They could well be working in a legitimate trade.

"All we are interested in is locating these girls."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0191-214 6555, ext 62926.