AN urgent appeal for help has been made by police as they bid to find 13-year-old Kajus Terechovas, who has gone missing from South Ockenden.

Kajus was last seen in person at about 10am on Sunday, 15 December, and was last in contact by phone at about 11.15am that morning.

Police say: "We want to make sure he's safe as soon as possible.

"He is about 5ft 7in tall, with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black coat, black Nike tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

"We have been conducting our search for Kajus at a rapid pace, and we're now asking for the public's help to locate him.

"As well as the Thurrock district, he has connections to the boroughs of Lewisham and Wandsworth.

"If you are with Kajus or have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact us by calling 999 and quoting incident number 1083 of Sunday, 15 December."