The sister of a teenager who went missing five months ago on her walk to work has pleaded with people to come forward with information to “end this nightmare”.

Leah Croucher, 19,  disappeared in Milton Keynes on February 15.

She was last seen on Buzzacott Lane in Furzton, just after 8.15am that morning.

Her older sister Jade Croucher has urged anyone who knows anything to “do the right thing” and go to the police.

She told PA: “We find it hard to understand how someone could go missing without a trace, without anybody knowing, and if somebody does know that information then we just, I would beg them, please come forward with it, please tell the police, please do whatever you can to end this nightmare for us.”

The 26-year-old described Leah as kind, caring and funny, and said her disappearance was “really out of character”.

She added: “Leah loves nothing more than being at home with her family.”

Ms Croucher thanked the public for their support, saying it had been “overwhelming”.

She said: “It is very clear to see that there’s a lot of love for Leah around, not only in Milton Keynes but spilling out further than that as well.”

She added: “We’ve just got to remain hopeful that Leah will be home soon and that she’s safe and that’s what will keep us going.”

Last month police revealed that Leah had told her family she was going to a friend’s house the evening before she disappeared, but did not do so.

They appealed for anyone who knows where she went or what she was doing between 5.45pm and 7.15pm on February 14 to contact them.

Police have previously said Leah may have been seen “angry, upset and crying” by a lake on the day she disappeared.

Leah Croucher
Leah Croucher has been missing since February (Thames Valley Police/PA)

Thames Valley Police said in April that three witnesses had reported sightings of a woman of a similar description.

Two of the witnesses were walking together and described a young woman who was “visibly angry, upset and crying”.

The force said at the time that they had not been able to confirm the sightings were of the missing teenager, and urged anyone with information to come forward.

The search has involved specialist police search teams, the mounted section, police dogs, the marine unit and the National Police Air Service.

On Monday, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Howard said: “Thames Valley Police remains committed to finding Leah Croucher, investigating and exploring every report received and continuing to offer support to Leah’s family through this incredibly difficult and upsetting time.

“We continue to receive information into the incident room, including reports of potential sightings of Leah, all of which are assessed and investigated accordingly.

“The investigation will continue with dedicated resources to explore these and any new lines of inquiry that develop.”