The head of Birmingham Central Mosque today appealed to any Muslim family that may be sheltering a missing Shropshire schoolgirl to let police know she is safe.

Dr Mohammad Naseem spoke out as concerns grew for the welfare of 14-year-old Sarah Dunn who has been missing for more than a month.

Detectives searching for the teenager, from Leintwardine, near Ludlow, have appealed to the Asian community for help.

Dr Naseem said: “Whoever she is with should realise that they have a duty to let the authorities know where Sarah is and that she is safe.

“But I would say that if the family she is with fear reprisals for taking her in, then they should get in touch with me in confidence as soon as possible and I will make sure the police know she is OK.

“As long as the police know where she is and that she is safe – that’s the most important thing at the moment.

“I would remind whichever family she is staying with to imagine if that was your daughter, think how worried you would be for her, so come forward and let her family know she is safe.”

Police said Sarah had taken an interest in Islam prior to going missing and had contacts in the Smethwick and Dudley areas of the West Midlands.

Sarah, who went to school in Ditton Priors, disappeared during a trip to Bridgnorth on September 28 and was later spotted in Wellington. She was in social service’s care on the day of her disappearance.

Anyone with information can contact police on 0300 333 3000 or Dr Mohammad Naseem on 07831 808690.