Mum 'just wants to hear the voice' of teen missing in Thailand

Bella May Culley, 18, has not been in contact with her family since Saturday and they are "desperate" for news as relatives fly out to search for her

The heartbroken family of a teenager are pleading for help after she disappeared in Thailand. Bella May Culley was last seen in the Pattaya region and has not been in touch with her family since Saturday.

Family members have travelled to the country to look for Bella, and her mum has expressed their desperate need for information. The 18-year-old from Billingham in the North East of England initially flew to the Philippines just after Easter and had been exploring the islands with a friend. It's thought that she travelled to Thailand around May 3.

She kept in regular contact with her mum, Lyanne Kennedy, and was scheduled to speak with her on Saturday, but the family hasn't heard anything since then and it appears her phone is switched off. Bella's father, Neil Culley, along with his sister Kerrie Culley, has now flown out to Thailand in search of answers.

Lyanne said: "She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks. She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3.", reports Teesside Live.

"The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.

"I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice."

The family has confirmed that Thai police are now involved and Bella's case is being treated as "high priority". In a Facebook post, they revealed that Cleveland Police have also been informed and anyone with information or who has had contact with Bella is urged to get in touch with the force.

The post read: "Information on Bella May is now urgently needed on the last known communication with Bella May. The police are now involved over here and in Thailand. Anything could help even if you think it isn't relevant, it could be."

A representative for Cleveland Police said: "We have received a report of a missing person who may be in Thailand. Enquiries are ongoing locally and with other agencies to establish the circumstances. We would appeal for anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Bella Culley to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref 084859."

Teesside Live has also reached out to the Foreign Office for additional details.