POLICE are searching for a tug-of-love child who has disappeared with her estranged father.

It is feared David Lancaster, 48, may have smuggled Lauren Allen, four, abroad after failing to return her to her mother.

Lauren's mother, Hayley Allen, of Walker, Newcastle, has applied successfully to the courts to make Lancaster return their daughter.

But he has vanished from his home and police made an urgent appeal yesterday for him to give himself up.

Lauren has not been seen since Sunday, April 1, when she and her younger brother spent the weekend with their father.

Lancaster return the young boy, who is not being named by police, to Hayley's home, but he said he was not bringing Lauren back because he wanted to spend more time with her.

He did not return that day and all attempts to trace him since have failed.

He is understood to have contacts in the West Midlands and the Channel Islands.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We are concerned for Lauren. It is a long time since she has seen her mother and she is desperate for her return.

"We do not believe David Lancaster poses any threat to Lauren, but the High Court has ordered he return her to her mother."

When last seen, Lauren was wearing blue denim jeans and jacket, and a white shirt with a horse emblem on the front.