Police are appealing for help in tracing a mum who took her son from his foster carer nearly a month ago.

Denise McDaid and her son, Anthony Lee McDaid, went missing on February 15 after she took the five-year-old - who was with his foster carer - from a Thornton Heath School.

Anthony is described as mixed race with a light skinned complexion and about 4ft.

He is of slim build and has brown eyes and cropped black curly hair.

He was last seen wearing a red sweatshirt, black jacket, grey school trousers and black shoes.

Denise McDaid, who is in her mid-forties, is described as white, 5ft 4ins, and of thin build with short cropped red/auburn hair. She has a strong Northern Irish accent.

She was last seen wearing a dark tan three-quarter length padded coat with a hood and a white beanie hat.

Police say they had had further sightings of her in Brixton Hill and Denise McDaid has links to the Lambeth area.

Anyone with information should contact Croydon police on 020 8649 1212.