A father has made an emotional appeal for his runaway daughter to come home, after two weeks away.

Kelly Hetherington, 15, left home on June 26, when she went to exchange a personal stereo at a Dixons electrical store.

She got in touch with her father in the afternoon to say it had been stolen from her, and added that she would be staying out all night with friends.

Her father, David Hetherington, 55, of Gosforth, Newcastle, said yesterday: "I told her not to stay out too late, and to come home, but she didn't turn up.

"The last we heard from Kelly was last Thursday. She called me and said 'there is no point in coming home at the moment'."

Kelly has only been living with her father since May 20. Before that, she was living with her mother in Cramlington, Northumberland, but has been known to run away in the past.

Mr Hetherington said: "She has never been away this long before, and I am going out of my mind with worry.

"When she left home that day she only had the price of a bus fare in her pocket."

Appealing to his daughter, he said: "Kelly, you are not in any trouble, we just want you to let us know that you are okay.

"Please phone me, or one of your friends."

Police believe that she is staying with friends in the Newcastle area.