SOCIAL workers are hoping a birthday party will lure back a missing teenager who vanished from a children's home eight days ago.

Lisa Kernaghan will be 15 today and disappeared after going to school in Redcar, east Cleveland. She left her lessons shortly after arriving on the morning of April 23, and has not been seen since.

Cleveland Police believe the teenager is in the Redcar area but their inquiries with friends and relatives have drawn a blank.

Lisa, who has gone missing before, was staying at a children's home in Grangetown when she left for West Redcar Community School.

Sergeant Tommy Drysdale, of Langbaurgh Police, said: "In the past she has been missing for a day or two. This time it has been a week. We have had no sightings of her at all and there are now growing concerns for her welfare.

"There has been a lot of police activity in searching for her but sadly it has generated no response whatsoever."

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: "All the staff at the home are concerned about her safety. It would be great if she returned for her party."

Lisa is 5ft 8in, of medium build, with shoulder-length, auburn hair. She was wearing a navy blue polo shirt and green and yellow jacket. Anyone who knows her whereabouts is asked to call Redcar Police on (01642) 302026.