A nationwide appeal for missing Blackpool schoolgirl Paige Chivers has been broadcast this week.

It comes after police in the resort received a letter from a mystery author claiming to know what happened to the 16-year-old, who went missing from her Bispham home more than a year ago.

The letter was delivered to Bispham police station last month, but only made public last week.

Police have not revealed the contents of the letter but officers are appealing for the author to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Toole from the Force Major Investigation Team says: "We have received an anonymous note of interest which suggests someone knows what has happened to Paige. I would urge the person who sent it to get back in touch."

Officers sealed off a row of garages in Cranbrook Avenue, just yards from Paige’s former Montgomery High School, last week. Police have not confirmed if the raid has thrown up new leads.

The campaign to find Paige reached new heights on Monday when broadcaster Sky News included a feature about the missing teen in a programme dedicated to the impact on families when loved ones go missing.

The programme, organised by the Missing People charity, was aired to audiences across Europe with bulletins throughout the day including an interview with Paige's family.

It is 16 months since Paige disappeared on August 23 last year.

Although her last movements are still unclear it is believed she boarded a number 11 bus at a stop in Ashfield Road, Blackpool.

Since her disappearance, police have received more than 100 unconfirmed sightings of Paige across the country and have run several campaigns to try to locate the teenager, including a video appeal on the social network website Facebook.

Paige is 5 feet 5 inches tall, slim, with shoulder length light brown hair. She has a distinctive Playboy tattoo with the word Playgirl underneath on the back of her neck and a tribal tattoo across her lower back.

She often wears gold hoop earrings and has two small sovereign rings. Paige often wears white and will normally wear cropped trousers and skimpy designer tops.

There is a £2,000 reward for information that helps police solve the case. Call police on 01253 293933 with information.