Concern is growing for a 17-year-old girl who left her Westcliff home to walk the family dog on Thursday afternoon and has not returned.

Linda Frilander left her home in Colemans Avenue, Westcliff, at around 2pm on Thursday, July 28 to walk the family’s large German Shepherd dog, named Shay, but has not returned.

Linda is 5ft 3ins tall and of medium build with straight brown shoulder-length hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing black jeans and a long-sleeved black t-shirt and a silver necklace with a silver bulldog pendant.

Chief Inspector Dave Colwell of Southend police station said: "Whilst Linda has been known to take very long walks with her dog in the past, she has never gone missing before. Linda does not appear to have made any preparations to be away from home and she had not taken a phone or her purse and bank cards out with her, nor her glasses.

"Since she was reported missing on Thursday night, we have been making several enquiries to try and trace Linda and we would now like the public’s help so we can re-trace her steps.

"Have you seen someone matching Linda’s description walking a large German Shepherd dog since last Thursday? If so please tell us where, so we can work out the route she took after leaving her house. If you know where she is now, please let us know as her parents are understandably extremely worried and want to know she is safe and well.”

If you have any information, please contact police at Southend on 0300 3334444