Milly Dowler’s older sister thought her sibling had been kidnapped when she did not return home after school, the Old Bailey has heard.

Gemma Dowler gave evidence this morning at the trial of convicted killer Levi Bellfield, 43, who denies kidnapping and murdering her then 13-year-old sister nine years ago.

In a statement read out to the court the 25-year-old said: “I looked at my watch and it said 5.15pm and I got worried. Dad got angry – he actually swore. He went out to look for Milly.

“I knew Milly would not go out without telling mum or dad what she was doing.

“I rang Milly’s mobile and it was switched off, so I left her a message telling her to come home because dad was getting angry.”

Later, when Milly’s mother Sally came home, Gemma told her she thought they should call the police.

The pair then searched the streets for her, driving up and down Walton High Street, and looking in McDonalds.

They also sent messages to her friends in a bid to locate her.

Gemma said: “When we got home at 7pm a police car was outside the house. We filled out a missing persons report.

“I knew immediately something bad had happened to Milly and she had been abducted. There’s no way she would have gone out without telling us.”

Milly vanished while she walked home from school from Walton station, on Thursday, March 21, 2002.

Bellfield also denies a further charge of attempting to kidnap schoolgirl Rachel Cowles on March 20, 2002.

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told of Bellfield's previous convictions, the murder of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonell and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy.

The trial continues.