A HUGE police search was launched to find a missing teenage girl following reports of her staggering down a Huddersfield road screaming out in pain.

Police cordoned off King’s Bridge at the bottom of Newsome Road in Newsome and put up a forensic tent before embarking on a mass-scale search yesterday.

Teams of officers combed the riverside, streets, bins and woodland around Newsome for clues after witnesses reported the incident on Saturday night.

The nearby footbridge, alleyways, and woodland banks around Damside were also cordoned off with blue and white police tape.

And although the girl was traced yesterday afternoon, police say it remains an active inquiry.

Witnesses had called the police after seeing the distressed girl – thought to be around 14 or 15 – staggering down Whitehead Lane at around 7pm on Saturday night.

Reports said the girl was shouting at someone in a silver car to get away from her, but the car followed her as she walked towards Newsome lights.

The girl was said to be doubled-up in pain and screaming.

A member of the public, who was in the area at the time, approached the teen to see if she was all right but she staggered away towards Newsome lights and out of sight.

At the time of the incident witnesses saw a dark car and a silver Ford parked on Queen’s Mill Road opposite Riverside Snacks.

The girl is described as being white or south Asian, 5ft 4ins tall, slim and with dark shoulder-length hair.

She was wearing dark clothing and dark or possibly tan-coloured boots.

Late yesterday a West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “The missing girl has been located and officers are speaking with her.

“Due to the nature of the incident we would urge any witnesses to come forward as this remains an active inquiry.’’

Traffic in the area was disrupted for most of yesterday morning – with motorists having to take various diversions.

One local man, who did not want to be named, had heard about the incident. He said: “There’s some dodgy people around here. A woman was followed in a car by a strange man not long ago.

“There’s loads of drug addicts around here too and they’re always just chucking their needles and syringes everywhere.

“Then there was a guy who got stabbed on the bridge. There’s some scum people around here.”

Last month Michelle Donnell was harassed by a man in a car as she walked through Newsome to Lockwood Cemetery.

Twice the stranger stopped to ask her if she wanted a lift and also drove back round a block of properties to catch up with her.

Michelle, 43, of Huddersfield, told the Examiner at the time how frightened she was and how she wanted to warn others of possible dangers.

Michelle was accosted in Kings Mill Lane, Damside and Queens Mill Road.