Police search increases in scale as concern for missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp rises

• Searches have covered a 500-metre radius around Tia’s grandmother’s house, including woodland, garages, lock-ups and a school

• Olympics resources have been redirected to the search which involves around 40 detectives and 40 specialist search officers

The 12-year-old is beleived to have been last seen at the house where her grandmother Christine Sharp, 46, lives with partner Stuart Hazell, 37, at The Lindens in New Addington, south-east London.

Tia, who has never run away before, vanished without a trace on Friday afternoon after telling relatives she was going shopping at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon.

Mr Hazell, thought to be one of the last people to see Tia, was questioned by police as a witness for more than two hours yesterday before returning home.

Police searched bins around the estate this morning, using sticks to scour through rubbish.

Mr Basu said police have collected more than 800 hours of CCTV footage from buses and trams, and viewed more than 120 hours of the material.

More than 80 officers have joined the hunt for Tia, while members of the local community have staged their own searches in the area where she vanished.

Scotland Yard has received more than 300 calls and 60 reported sightings of Tia, including a member of the public who came forward saying they saw her leaving her grandmother’s house on Friday.

Metropolitan Police area commander Neil Basu said police could not be “absolutely sure” who the last person to see Tia on the estate was.

He stressed the investigation remains a missing persons inquiry, with no suspects.