Mary would be 70 this year

The Metropolitan Police force is appealing for help in tracing a teenage girl who disappeared more than 53 years ago - its oldest missing persons case.

Mary Flanagan was aged 16 when she went missing in 1959 in east London.

She had left her home in Wallace Road, West Ham, to go to a New Year's Eve party but never returned.

Police are keen to speak to a man called Tom McGinty, who is thought to have been the teenager's boyfriend at the time she went missing.

A Met Police spokesman said Mary would be 70 this year and are using this landmark to review the inquiry.

'Never given up'

Mary's younger siblings, Brenda, Eileen and Kevin, have never stopped looking for her and are desperate to find out what happened to their sister.

Det Ch Insp Dave Rock said: "It is now over 50 years since Mary disappeared and her family have never given up hope of finding her.

"We know Mary may have had a boyfriend called Tom McGinty at the time of her disappearance - I think it is key that we trace this man as he may be able to shed light on the events around new year in 1960.

"If Tom McGinty is still alive, I would appeal directly to him to make contact with me with any information he may have about Mary."

He is believed to have been in Merchant Navy.

Mary is 5ft 2in tall with hazel eyes.

Source: bbc.co.uk