Alex Bendall: Mother makes plea over missing 18-year-old

Police have described Alice Bendall's disappearance as "out of character"

The mother of a missing teenager has appealed for them to come home.

Alex Bendall, 18, who is also known as Alice, was last seen on CCTV in Tesco in Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset, at about 19:30 GMT on Saturday.

Extensive searches are continuing in the Charminster and Dorchester areas.

Alex's mum said: "Al, we love you with all our hearts, miss you and beg you to come back home - whatever might have happened. We just want to know that you are safe and well."

The 18-year-old was spotted on CCTV in a Tesco store in Dorchester on Saturday night

She added: "If anyone out there has been with Al or knows anything at all, please, please contact Dorset Police."

The National Police Air Service, Dorset Search and Rescue, Wiltshire Search and Rescue, Dorset Search Dogs, Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs and Wessex 4x4 have all been involved in searching.

Search crews gathered for a briefing at Charminster Community Hall

The teenager is described as 5ft 6in tall, of slim build, with short brown hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket with a denim body and black fabric sleeves, dark coloured jeans, Dr. Martens boots with a green lace in one boot and a purple lace in the other, a bracelet over the cuff on the right arm and carrying a small backpack.

Local residents joined police officers to help in the search for Alice, also known as Alex

Ch Insp Darren Harris, of Dorset Police, said: "We have been carrying out a large number of searches and I am grateful to our partner and voluntary agencies for their ongoing help.

"I would ask anyone who was in the area [of Tesco] around that time and may have information to assist us to please get in touch.

"I am also appealing to any motorists who were travelling in the vicinity with a dashcam fitted to their vehicle to please check their footage for any possible sightings.

"Finally, I would like to renew my appeal to Alice directly - if you see this appeal, please get in touch with us or your family as we all just want to ensure you are safe and well."

Police spotted the teenager on CCTV captured at the Tesco store in Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester