POLICE are appealing for help to trace a missing teenage girl and an older woman who both have connections to the Inverclyde area.

In seperate appeals officers are urgently looking for help from the public to find both females.

Jessica Howe, 13, was last seen by friends in her home village of Houston yesterday but is known to visit Skelmorlie.

Officers are also looking for help to find Camelia Garcia-Neilson, 35.

She has gone missing from Paisley but frequents the village of Kilmacolm.

Sergeant Frank Williams of Police Scotland said: “Jessica has not been missing before and it is completely out of character for her not to keep in close contact with her family and friends."

She is white, 5ft 4 inches in height and of slim build with long brown hair.

Jessica is thought to be wearing a white school shirt, a school tie, black short dress, black tights, plain white trainers with a zip at the side and a khaki/green bomber-style jacket.

She was carrying a grey rucksack.

In relation to the appeal on Ms Garcia-Neilson, she is described as 5ft 8 inches tall, of medium build with long blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a pink coloured top, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers.

Sergeant David Edington said: “Camelia has been going through a difficult time recently and her family are very concerned about her. She does not know the Paisley area very well, though is known to frequent Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm.

“I am appealing for anyone with information regarding Camelia's whereabouts to come forward.

“I would also ask Camelia directly to please get in touch with someone to let us know that she is safe and well."

Anyone with information about either Jessica Howe or Camelia Garcia- Neilson is asked to contact Paisley Police Station via 101.