The parents of missing teenager Nicola Cole today told her: "We love you, come home".

Steve and Irene Cole have no idea where their daughter is and she has not been seen since Saturday.

Both her parents and the police who are searching for her, are becoming increasingly concerned for the 15-year-old's safety.

BT engineer Mr Cole, 42, said: "We just want her back and to make sure she is safe.

"We want her to contact us by any method, we are all concerned. Please just come home."

Mrs Cole, 40, was admitted to hospital after suffering excruciating stomach pain on Monday and was only allowed to go home yesterday. She believes the stress of not knowing where her daughter is brought on her illness.

"I just want her to come home, that's all I want," she said.

Nicola, a Greendown School pupil, is described as a friendly, happy-go-lucky girl who has never been missing before.

Mr Cole said: "If ever she is going to be late she always phones and tells us, she has never done this before."

Her parents, of Benwell Close, Westlea, cannot think of any reason why she would want to run away although for the last year she has been upset by two deaths in the family.

Mrs Cole said: "She was quite upset and depressed for a little while about the bereavements we have had in the family. But she has been absolutely fine recently, she has been really good."

Last week Nicola was spending the week at PHH doing work experience and the weekend before she went to Brands Hatch with her mother for a world superbikes competition one of her passions.

Her parents, who have a son, 18-year-old David, are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with not knowing where their daughter is.

"Every hour that goes by there is knot in my stomach just getting tighter and tighter," she said.

"The police told us that 98 percent of children who go missing turn up. But I can't help thinking about that other two percent. She has been gone since Saturday, which might not sound like a very long time, but it has been like a lifetime for us.

"I just feel so useless, I wish there was something more I could do.

"I wouldn't want any parent to go what we are going through."

Nicola was last seen on Saturday at around 4.30pm, when she was heading into Swindon centre to meet some friends. She was due home at 7pm but did not turn up.

She is described as white, 5ft 3in tall, with short blonde hair and brown eyes. She is of medium build and her left eye brow is pierced.

She was last seen wearing a cream jumper, beige fleece, black trousers and black platform boots.

Anyone who has seen Nicola is asked to ring Swindon police on 528111.