THE parents of a missing teenager pleaded for her safe return on Wednesday, August 14 and slammed Harrow social services for failing to stop her running away.

Mark and Nicola Tyrer of Vernon Drive, Stanmore, have been through a living hell since 14-year-old Olivia vanished on June 3.

The troubled teenager has run away about 20 times in the past two years, but has never been gone for more than two weeks. She is a pupil of Park High in Thistlecroft Gardens, Stanmore, but has not attended school for a year. Since she fled the last time, she has made no attempt to contact her parents.

"She had been home a month since the last time she ran away," said Mr Tyrer, 41, a lorry driver. "She appeared well balanced and happy, and then on June 3 she just left."

His wife, 42, a legal secretary, added: "She's never been gone this long before and we are desperately worried she could have been pulled into prostitution or using drugs."

All the Tyrers can do is wait anxiously for their beloved daughter to come home. The only shred of hope that the devastated couple have to cling to is that Olivia was spotted outside Sam's Chicken Bar in High Street, Wealdstone, on Monday last week.

DC Keith Melton of Harrow police said: "Olivia has been missing for over 10 weeks and our concerns for her safety are mounting. She was last seen on August 5, wearing a string vest with a black bra showing underneath and flashing a large wad of cash about. It is feared that she is being dragged into prostitution and we need to find her as a matter of urgency."

Mr and Mrs Tyrer, who have another daughter, aged 16, said they were disgusted by the lack of action by social services since they went to them for help a year ago.

"When Olivia was 13 she got caught up with a local gang," said Mr Tyrer. "We noticed her personality completely change and, not long after that, she ran away for the first time. We tried to stop her and gave her all the love and support we could, but it made no difference and when we were at our wits' end, we decided to go to social services for help.

"In the year since they got involved in our case, they know that Olivia has repeatedly gone missing, yet they have refused to go to the courts to apply for a secure order against Olivia so that she can be taken away from the bad influences who are leading her astray and get appropriate counselling."

Mrs Tyrer added: "Even now, social services' plan is that if we get Olivia back, they are going to put her with a foster family in Harrow. But that will be completely futile, she will just run away again.

"Maybe if they had tried that a year ago it would have worked, but we are just incredulous that there is nothing in the system to protect a vulnerable child who needs help. If she doesn't get that help and support now she is going to end up dead in a ditch somewhere."

A social services spokesman said: "There is a plan in place for when she is found, including multi-agency assessments to help Olivia and her parents. All possible placement options will be considered, including secure accommodation, if found appropriate."

Anyone with information should call DC Melton on 020 8733 4335.