POLICE have begged a 16-year-old girl missing from her Bournemouth address for two months to get in touch.

Qin Wang, a Chinese student, had been in Britain for just three months when she vanished from the home of her host family in Boscombe on January 4.

Detectives have since made several attempts to contact her through the media and the Chinese community but so far there has been no trace of her.

Now they have renewed their appeal.

A letter allegedly written by Qin Wang was received at her host home last month but police are still keen to speak to her to make sure the letter is genuine.

"I suspect that this letter was written of behalf of Qin and in it there is an apology and an explanation that she is well and with friends," said Detective Sergeant Ashton Rieteker of Bournemouth CID.

"I believe she's in the local east Dorset area but we do still need to see her to make sure that she's safe and well."

DS Rieteker said there is no suggestion that Qin is being held against her will or that she has been harmed in any way.

He said he understands that she may not wish to talk to the police and that a well-known figure in the local community, Andy Chu, has offered to be a contact for her.

Mr Chu is available through his shop, Wah Hing, at 31, Sea Road, Boscombe on 01202 395604.

When last seen, Qin was wearing a black, three-quarter-length coat with a hood, a grey polo neck jumper, jeans, black boots and a silver necklace.

She is described as 5ft 3in tall, slim, with shoulder-length hair, dyed red in parts.

Anyone with information is asked to call Droset Police on 01202 222222 or the free, anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

DS Reiteker stressed that Qin and those looking after her are not in trouble.