Birthday plea to missing boy

Maureen Smith is becoming increasingly worried for the safety of grandson Ryan Smith since he ran away from a children's home almost two weeks ago.

His family fear the worst after he failed to contact them on his 14th birthday.

Ryan's cards and presents are still lying untouched at his grandmother's home in Ham Road, Shoreham.

The teenager was staying at Strides children's home in Pelham Road, Worthing, after his parents separated.

His family was split up and Ryan's two brothers and two sisters are staying at separate locations throughout Sussex and the South-East.

Mrs Smith, who was recently widowed, said Ryan was particularly vulnerable.

She said: "He has run away before but only been gone for evenings. He is scared of the dark. He has been away for 12 days now and I'm petrified about what might have happened to him.

"It was his birthday last Wednesday and I thought he would come and see me. All his cards and presents are sitting here. It's not like him not to turn up for his birthday."

Ryan went missing after telling staff at the children's home he was going to meet his grandmother but he never arrived.

Mrs Smith believes he ran away because he was worried about being moved from the Worthing home.

She said: "He was due to be moved in a fortnight and was very worried about it.

"He is not like a normal 14-year-old. He can't read and write properly and he does what people tell him. He hasn't been to school in over two years. He is very vulnerable.

"I don't know if the police are taking his disappearance seriously enough, maybe because he has run away from a home."

Sergeant John Skelton of Worthing police said: "He has been reported missing and when a 14-year-old is missing from his home we get a bit concerned.

"We need to speak to him to establish all is well."

Ryan is 5ft 1in, thin and has fair cropped hair. He usually wears a beige coloured baseball cap.

Anyone with information is urged to call 0845 6070999.