Police think missing schoolgirl has gone on the run with her maths teacher Jeremy Forrest
French authorities are on the hunt for a British schoolgirl who is believed to have fled there with her maths teacher.
Megan Stammers, 15, from Eastbourne is thought to have left for France with 30-year-old Jeremy Forrest, a married maths teacher from her school, Bishop Bell C of E.
She was reported missing on Friday after failing to turn up for school.
Nine hours later she is believed to have boarded a ferry to Calais with Forrest.
Chief Inspector Jason Tingley, of Sussex Police, said: 'We are investigating several lines of inquiry and are grateful for the support and co-operation from Megan's family and friends.
'We are at a critical stage of the investigation.'
The family of the teenager made an emotional appeal on Saturday, saying: 'We just want Megan to make contact with us. We are worried and miss her terribly - please get in touch Megan.'
Police are investigating the background to the case at present. Cryptic blog posts written by Forrest in May give a sense of a moral dilemma.
In one post the teacher wrote: 'I came to a few different conclusions, mainly that actually we get a lot of things wrong, but at the end of the day I was satisfied that if you can look yourself in the mirror and know that, under all the front, that you are a good person, that should have faith in your own judgement.'
Megan is around 5ft6, slim, with long hair and was last seen wearing a white vest top.
East Sussex County Council said it was urgently investigating the background of the case.
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