Police are appealing for help in finding two children who are missing from South Norwood.

Zeenat Abdala, 16, and her niece, Lutfiya Salum, six, were last seen at around noon on Saturday, December 14, as they left their home to go to the library in Lawrence Road.

When the pair didn't return, it was established they hadn't attended the library and police were called.

Zeenat and Lutfiya arrived in UK from Somali earlier this year as unaccompanied minors and live in foster care. It is believed they may be travelling to meet family that recently arrived in the UK.

Officers are concerned for their safety and welfare and urge them to contact police or their foster carers as soon as possible.

Zeenat is described as a light skinned black girl with a slim face and slim build; she is 5ft 1in tall with black hair always in a headscarf. She is also described as looking younger than her age.

She was last seen wearing a plain brown silk headscarf, a three quarter length chocolate brown coat hooded with brown fur on the hood, underneath a brown cardigan with a fruit pattern and a long red, black and yellow dress with black leggings.

She was wearing pink sandals and carrying a brown shoulder bag with a flower pattern.

Lutfiya is also described as a light skinned black girl with a round face and black hair in a bun.

She was last seen wearing a pink blouse, pink leggings, pink socks with a blue pattern and black shoes.

She was also wearing a grey cardigan and a three quarter length brown hooded coat with a black pattern. The coat was hooded with brown fur.

It is believed Zeenat has access to money, a mobile phone and regularly uses the transport network.

Anyone who has seen Zeenat and Lutfiya, or who knows of their whereabouts is asked to call police on 101 or Missing People on 116 000.