A £10,000 reward has been offered for clues to help solve the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl last seen in south London 23 years ago.

Carmel Fenech was aged just 16 when she vanished in 1998 and it is feared she may have been murdered.

She was last seen at Camberwell Green with an unknown man on May 21 that year and did not return to her home 30 miles away in Crawley, West Sussex.

News Shopper: Camberwell Green (Robit Stott)

The schoolgirl was reported missing by her mother over a month later and it is now believed Carmel was murdered, but a body has never been found, police said.

Carmel, who is also known as Carmel Pendry, would have turned 40 tomorrow and on the eve of her birthday, her family have launched a fresh appeal for information.

She grew up on the North Peckham Estate, as well as in nearby Brixton and Stockwell.

But she moved with her family to Crawley less than a year before she disappeared.

Detectives have focused the search on south London as Carmel did not know many people in the West Sussex town.

Information so far suggests that before her disappearance Carmel often visited the Brixton and Stockwell areas.

A reward of up to £10,000 is being offered by the charity Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone linked to this case.

Deidre Fenech said the family have been "left in limbo" for the last two decades and begged anyone who might know what happened to her daughter to come forward.

She added: "My family have been left in limbo for 23 years, not knowing what has happened to my daughter, Carmel, has had a devastating effect on my physical and mental health.

"We continue to function because we are a very close family and continue to support each other.

"A huge part of my life is empty without my daughter Carmel. Please if anyone has any information concerning her whereabouts or any other information please let us know so we can finally get an answer. I thank you in advance for your help."

Detective Inspector Chris Rambour of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said investigators want to speak to the man Carmel was last seen with at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

He added: "Carmel's disappearance has had widespread media and other publicity over many years and although no trace of her possible whereabouts has ever been found, her disappearance has not been forgotten.

"We particularly want to identify and speak to the man who Carmel was last seen with on May 21, 1998, as he may be able to provide us with information that will assist us with locating her. There is currently no description of him but he clearly knew her.

"Further lines of enquiry in London were identified by recent reviews and we have been working with the Metropolitan Police to examine these and pursue them where possible, although so far they have not led to any significant developments.

"Together, we and Deidre hope that this renewed appeal, combined with the enquiries we are still carrying out, will jog memories and consciences in south London.

"The answer is out there and we really want to find out what has happened and help achieve justice and closure for her family, even after all these years."