CCTV image of missing Naomi released

Detectives searching for missing teenager Naomi Mills, who is thought to have run off with her 22-year-old policeman boyfriend, have released CCTV images in the hope of tracing the couple.

The footage of 15-year-old Naomi and West Mercia Police Pc Matthew Brooks was taken on Friday evening at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, in Brierley Hill, West Midlands.

Officers said Brooks had fled with several hundred pounds in cash. They had both been seen shopping at Merry Hill and police want to hear from anyone who may know what the items shown in the CCTV still were.

A major land and sea search was also under way along the north coast of Scotland after Brooks' car was found abandoned on a beach in Tongue, near Thurso.

A coastguard helicopter from Stornoway arrived at Tongue this afternoon to begin an inland search of the area where the couple was last seen.

One possibility the search operation was exploring was that they were camping out in the remote Highlands as detectives revealed Brooks enjoyed the outdoors.

Hill walkers and campers were also being urged by police north of the border to come forward and eliminate themselves from the inquiry.

Detective Superintendent Ray Groves, who is leading the hunt for the couple, said: "Our understanding is that his family had enjoyed holidays in Scotland and that he had fond memories of those holidays," the West Mercia officer said.

"Part of his background growing up is through camping and Scouting - he enjoys outdoor life."

He stressed that all the information he had led him to believe that the pair were in Scotland and the Astra had not been used as a decoy.

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