Keziah Russell, the teenager missing for more than a month, is safe and well according to reports received by her mother.

The 15-year-old disappeared from her home in Lowther Street, York, on April 3, sparking a major police hunt.

Now, relieved mum Janice Russell has been told her daughter is safe. She said: "She is definitely okay, I am 100 per cent sure. I would like to thank everybody who has helped try and track her down."

Mrs Russell said she received word of her daughter's discovery yesterday. Although the details are sketchy, she was able to confirm Kez had been found well outside the region.

Following Kez's disappearance en route to her grandparents' house in Warwickshire, appeals were printed in the Evening Press and - in a groundbreaking move - police used the Evening Press Internet site to post pictures of Kez worldwide in the hope it would lead to information from international web users.

Kez's parents made an appeal on a regional television missing persons programme - although it was broadcast after her discovery yesterday.

Inspector Geoff Dodds, of York Police, said officers involved in the case were "absolutely delighted" by Kez's discovery.

Mrs Russell said: "I want to thank everybody who has assisted in the search, the police and the Evening Press have both been a great help."

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