CONCERN is mounting for a teenager with learning difficulties who has been missing from her Bolton home for six days.

Michelle Derbyshire, aged 18, was last seen by her mother Lynne at the family home in Yates Street, Tonge Moor, last Tuesday evening.

Today, as a police investigation into Michelle's disappearance was launched, her worried family issued a plea for the blonde teenager to come home. She has a mental age of 12 and her family say she is easily influenced.

Mrs Derbyshire said: "We have been looking everywhere for her. We want her to know that she is not trouble -- we just want her to come home."

Det Chief Insp Shaun Hogan said there have been several unconfirmed sightings of her, including one on Saturday afternoon in Tonge Moor Road. He said: "We want Michelle to phone home or call the police. It is unusual behaviour for her to go missing.

"We want to appeal for anyone who has seen her, or knows where she is, to contact us."

Michelle is 5ft 3ins tall, slim with blue eyes and long blonde hair. She was last seen wearing blue Puma tracksuit trousers, a white hooded top and a navy blue coat with fur around the hood.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Astley Bridge Police on 0161 856 5740, or Greater Manchester Police's HQ on 0161 872 5050.

Michelle had been playing with local children near her home last Tuesday night. Mrs Derbyshire said she changed her clothes before she went back out to play, saying she would be home by 9pm. She did not return.

said the family were very close and Michelle would not want to be out of contact with her brothers, Derek, aged 21, and David, aged 19.

Her father, Derek, said: "Michelle would never do this sort of thing herself. She has not taken any clothes with her or anything."