'TEENAGER Tammy Lane, missing for eight days, is home safe and well today.

The 15-year-old from Winchestown, Nantyglo, was picked up by Brynmawr police at 7.30pm yesterday.

She was eventually reunited with parents Andrew Lane, 42, and Michelle French, 33, at 10pm.

Tammy, who is believed to have been staying in the Birmingham city centre area until yesterday, is said to be very tired but otherwise fine, according to Mr Lane.

Tammy today apologised for going away and sparking a national appeal to trace her.

"I'm just sorry for making them all look for me," said Tammy at her home in Waunheulog.

Her father said: "It hasn't hit me yet and I have been thinking the worst all the time. I just started shaking when I saw her and my wife, Michelle, is just glad she is home.

"Tammy seems okay in herself but she never tells me anything because I'm her dad.

"Tammy is recovering now. She looks fine and is resting but the main thing is she is alive and that is all I care about. If she had been a boy I don't think I would have worried so much and I am just relieved she is safe and well."

Mr Lane said he was absolutely shell-shocked when he first set eyes on his daughter for the first time in more than a week.

He said: "I couldn't say anything when I saw her and if I wanted to shout at her I couldn't have done so because I was speechless."

Mr Lane said he was also thankful for the appeals that the Argus ran in a bid to trace his missing daughter.

"Any coverage concerning missing children - not just mine - is always a big help," he said.

"I want to thank everyone who has supported the family this last few days, the community and the newspapers."

Tammy was missing for eight days, sparking police appeals in Gwent and the West Midlands for information about her.

We reported yesterday how she had been picked up by police in Wolverhampton and taken to hospital in a drunken state, only for them not to recognise her.

Police there said they were not formally notified she was a missing person until the day after.