New image released in search for Natalie Putt

An updated image of a teenage mother who vanished from her Black Country home has been issued in the hope it will help trace her and end a seven-year mystery.

Natalie Putt disappeared aged 17 from her home in Dudley in September 2003.

Using photographs of her late mother Jennifer and sisters Lowri and Rebecca, a computer-generated image has been created showing how Natalie may now look aged 24.

Her half sister Rebecca Coggins, aged 33, hopes it will be used as part of a new poster appeal to jog people's memories.

The image was produced by charity Missing People. Specific facial features including cheek bones and hairlines from Natalie's mother and sisters were combined to show how the ageing process could have taken place.

Nursery nurse Rebecca, who now lives in Nottingham, says she is "desperate" for news of Natalie's whereabouts. "There is always hope and maybe this image could just trigger something in someone's mind that they have seen while out shopping for example," the mother-of-four said.

"I had a strange feeling when we reached the seventh anniversary of her disappearance and after talking to people we thought we should do something.

"I am desperate to find out what has happened to her or at least to know that she is safe. We will never give up."

Natalie, of Thornleigh, Lower Gornal, went missing on September 1, 2003, when she left her home to go to a shop. She left behind her son, then aged three months, and has not been seen since.

Natalie's mother Jennifer died aged 41 in 1996 while her father David still lives at the family home in Lower Gornal. Mr Putt said: "We have still got hope but the longer it goes on the fainter that becomes."

Anyone who has any information can call police on 0845 113 5000.