Fears grow for young mum and baby boy

Catalina and her baby - missing

CONCERN is mounting for the welfare of a 15-year-old girl and her baby, missing since December 19.

Catalina Covaci and her son Ricardo disappeared from their home in Cumbria, and are thought to have links to Oldham.

Catalina, originally from Romania, has lived in Cumbria for 18 months. She told her guardians at their home in Penrith taht she was taking a routine walk into the town centre with the six-month-old son.

She was last seen at Penrith railway station.

Police say they travelled to Manchester Piccadilly at around 2.40pm, but the pair then disappeared.

Officers have contacted Interpol and a search has now begun internationally.

Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir said: “We are stepping up our efforts to trace Catalina and Ricardo and believe that someone out there is helping them.

“Catalina is vulnerable — she is 15, has a baby son and took very little money with her when she left home last month.

“Police and her guardians are growing increasingly worried for their welfare.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.