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A missing 13-year-old girl who left the UK on a Eurotunnel train is believed to have gone to Poland where her mum lives, police have said.

Serena Alexander-Benson was last seen by her dad leaving their home in Wimbledon, south-west London, at around 7.50am on Friday.

She was dressed in her mostly green school uniform, including her blazer, but a public appeal was launched after she failed to arrive at school.

Scotland Yard has since said the teenager left the country from Folkestone, Kent, on the morning of her disappearance on a Eurotunnel train.

(Image: Metropolitan Police)

She was travelling in a car with a female friend of her mother's who is a Polish national who lives in London, according to the force.

Detectives believe Serena has travelled to Poland with the friend.

In a statement this afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said: "CID officers based at Wandsworth are investigating.

"Active lines of inquiry are being pursued by officers, working with the National Crime Agency and the Polish authorities.

(Image: PA)

"Detectives are not releasing further details at this stage of the route Serena and the woman have taken, nor of how it has been established that they are in Poland, where Serena's mother lives."

The force added: "At this stage, the priority of officers is to confirm Serena's exact whereabouts and confirm that she is safe.

"Any potential offences will be considered in due course."