A father whose own daughter went missing in 2007 has appealed for anyone with information about Tia Sharp to come forward.

Mr Phillips, who used to live in New Addington, is an anti-domestic violence campaigner who lost his daughter, Joanne Croxton, after she was murdered by her husband in December 2005.

The 58-year-old said he knows what the family of Tia is going through, having dealt with a similar situation in 2005.

He said: “I want to put an appeal out there to anyone who has the smallest bit of information to come forward and contact the police. A little bit of information could prove to be significant.

“It is hard for me as I know what it is like. It is hard to put in to words what you go through at times like this.

“My daughter was reported missing for six days and for those six days you just feel hopeless really. We were going out looking for her but you just go into auto-pilot really.

“You just don’t know anything. You are thinking the worst but you are also thinking she could maybe be alive.

“I am hoping there is a good outcome to this case.”

Anyone who has seen Tia or knows of her whereabouts should call Merton Police on 101 (quoting reference 12MIS025216); or Missing People on 116 000