4 Sep 2014

Bag found as CCTV released in search for Alice Gross, 14

Police find a rucksack belonging to missing London schoolgirl Alice Gross, as divers search a canal close to the spot where she was last seen.

Missing 14-year-old Alice Gross.

The video pictures show Alice Gross, from Ealing, walking along the Grand Union canal towpath in the direction of Kew at 2.23pm on 28 August.

She is later seen walking back towards Hanwell along the same route at 3.45pm on the same day.

Police confirmed that her bag, a purple rucksack, had been found in the area, close to the Holiday Inn at Brentford Lock.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told Channel 4 News the search of the canal is ongoing and will continue into Friday.

Alice’s mum revealed that the teenager had been unwell and receiving treatment for anorexia.

Rosalind Hodgkiss said: “We’d like to say first of all that we miss her, that we love her and that she’s not in any trouble, and we want to know that she’s safe. We just want her to come home.

We love her so much, we’re worried and I can’t wait to be with my sister again. Nina Gross

“We’re also appealing to anybody who might have seen her or who may have made contact with her or who may know something about her whereabouts to contact police or Missing People, and to just get in touch because we’re really concerned about her wellbeing.”

Alice Gross's bag which was found along the towpath.

Song writing class

Alice attended a song writing workshop at the Camden Roundhouse shortly before her disappearance. Police are asking anyone who became friends with her in the class to contact them to help with the investigation.

Alice’s sister Nina, 19, has set up a Facebook page to appeal for information. She said: “We love her so much, we’re worried and I can’t wait to be with my sister again.

“If you do know where she is, or you have had contact with her, you may feel that you are helping her, but it’s really important that she comes home.”

Meanwhile the hashtag #FindAlice has been tweeted more than 80,000 times in the last week.

Anyone with information should contact missingpeople.org or the Metropolitan Police.

Alice Gross disappearance: police release CCTV.