A TEENAGER missing from her North Yorkshire home since Monday night was today found safe and well by police officers.

Kayleigh Wadsworth, 13, was found in Selby town centre just before 11.30am.

A police spokesman said that Kayleigh would be returned home, where she lives with her grandparents, Bill and Val Napper, in due course.

North Yorkshire's deputy chief constable, Peter Walker, said he was "delighted" with the outcome and would like to thank all the people who had telephoned with information.

The distraught family of the teenager had made an emotional plea for her to come home or get in touch.

Fears were growing for her safety.

Kayleigh left her semi-detached home, in St John's Mews, off Charles Street, Selby, following a family disagreement.

Today, police launched a major operation to find the Brayton College student. An incident room was set up at Selby Police Station, and the operation was conducted by North Yorkshire's deputy chief constable, Peter Walker.

Mr Walker said police had pursued many lines of investigation, including the possibility of abduction.

The operation had included house-to-house inquiries. A CID investigation team and specialist search officers had also been called in.

Mr Walker said Kayleigh had left home after an argument with her family, but declined to say what the disagreement was about.

About 50 officers were involved in the search, including dog handlers who were scouring nearby Burn airfield.

Kayleigh lives with her grandparents, Bill and Val Napper, and her identical twin sister, Casey.

They were overjoyed when they heard the news that their granddaughter had been found.

They said: "It's been an absolute nightmare and we are mightily relieved that Kayleigh is safe and well."

Kayleigh was being interviewed by police this afternoon before being taken home.

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Ron Johnson said: "She ran away from home, but what was worrying was that we had had no sightings or information about her whereabouts since 8.30pm on Monday, when she was seen by a friend near Hodgson's grocery store, in Flaxley Road."

Kayliegh and Casey are in the same class at Brayton College.

Acting head teacher Steve Payne said that at assembly today students had been told that if they knew anything at all about Kayleigh's disappearance they should contact teachers or phone a confidential police hotline.

Mr Payne said: "Kayleigh is a pleasant, hard-working girl." Police took statements from her friends.

He confirmed that Casey was in school today.

Deanna Croft, who lives next to the family, in St John's Mews, said: "Kayleigh is a nice, polite girl - an ordinary teenager with lots of friends."

Updated: 12:30 Wednesday, September 25, 2002