THE FAMILY of missing Newport teenager Sam Collins believe she has run away to Plymouth with a man she met on a telephone chatline.

The 18-year-old has not been to her home in Maesglas Road, Newport since November 10 and yesterday her parents appealed through the Argus for her to contact them.

Last night, her mother Catherine Collins revealed that Sam had left a letter saying that she had fallen in love.

And one of Sam's friends has suggested the teenager may be in Plymouth - where police have recently confirmed a withdrawal was made using her cashcard.

She said: "The letter says that she's met someone, she's fallen in love and she's moving away from Newport.

"It's definitely her handwriting but it looks like someone was dictating it to her and telling what to write down.

"It started off 'To My Family' and that's not like Sam. It said, 'This was the hardest decision I've ever had to make,' and it's not the kind of thing she'd say.

"She didn't mention her brother or her sister, either. If anything I would have thought she would have been in contact with her sister by now. "The trouble with Sam is she's very easily led and I think whoever she's with has filled her head with stuff.

"It's not like her to do something like this. I wouldn't stop her and she knows that, as long as she's happy and I know she's safe I don't mind. "We're not really coping. I'm not flipping and life goes on but it's so hard at the moment, crying all the time and trying not to show the other children I'm upset.

"The person we believe she's with is from Plymouth and the police are checking down there now.

"We're thinking of going down there ourselves at the weekend and putting some leaflets up.

"I just want to say to Sam that we all love her and no matter what happens she can always come home."

Anyone with information about Sam's whereabouts should call Newport police on 01633 244999.