THE parents of missing 14-year-old Alice Gross from Hanwell have released an emotional appeal for her return.

Alice, who has health problems, went missing from her family home last Thursday afternoon.

The last sighting of her appears to be from CCTV footage of the Grand Union Canal towpath near the Holiday Inn at Brentford later that day. She was walking in the direction of the Thames.

Her parents, Jose Gross and Rosalind Hodgkiss, have spoken publicly for the first time.

A statement released by police said: “She is very passionate about music and is amazingly skilled. Alice is a thoughtful girl and it’s these attributes we miss.

“We want to directly appeal to Alice and say we just want you home. We miss you and we love you and we just want you back with us.

“You are not in any trouble. Please pick up the phone and let us know you are OK. We want to support you, so please get in contact."

The head teacher at Brentside School, which Alice attends, added his voice to the appeals.

He said: "All at Brentside are very worried about her and our thoughts go out to her family at this extremely worrying time.

"Alice is a very able and talented student, popular with both staff and students. She is talented in all areas of the curriculum and excels in the arts."

Police are also looking into a song-writing workshop the teenager attended.

Sgt Chris Naughton, of the Ealing Missing Persons Unit, said: "Five days on, we are becoming increasingly worried about Alice.

"We know Alice was on a song-writing workshop at the Camden Roundhouse from August 18-22 and there is a possibility she may have made some new friends.

“This is one line of inquiry we are exploring and I am keen to speak to anyone who was with Alice during that week-long course. Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence."

Alice, a student at Brentside High School, is described as 5ft 2in tall, slim, with shoulder-length light brown hair.

She was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, a dark green lacy cardigan and denim Van’s shoes. She was possibly also wearing tartan-framed glasses.

The teenager told her parents that she would be home at 6pm that night, but has not been seen since.