A LOCAL man has launched an awareness campaign in a bid to bring missing Surrey schoolgirl Amanda "Milly" Dowler safely back home.
Stuart Page of Monument Chase, Whitehill, works with Amanda's father Bob and decided to try to help efforts to find the 13 year old who has not been seen since leaving Walton-on-Thames train station on March 25.
Mr Page, a father-of-two, is involved with Badshot Lea Youth Football Club and on Sunday will organise the distribution of posters of Milly to every football club in its league, including teams from Farnham and Haslemere, during a cup competition over the weekend.
He explained: "Through this connection I am driving the first of many awareness campaigns to help bring Milly back safe and sound to her family.
"Our 'Search for Milly' support day begins this Sunday and will involve all 97 football clubs that form the West Surrey Youth League distributing 5,000 posters to every one of its members, supporters and friends."
Despite extensive police searches and appeals by her family, no trace of the schoolgirl has yet been found.
Officers from Surrey police have said there was no evidence of a struggle and it is more likely that Milly ran away with someone, rather than that she has been abducted.
When she was last seen making her way back to her Walton home she was dressed in her school uniform and was carrying a beige rucksack.
Mr Page has a daughter Aimee (15) and son Christopher (13) and said that this, coupled with his involvement with the youth football team, has contributed towards his decision to take action.
He said: "This kind of thing does make you think as a father and I am also involved in a lot of child protection within the football club."
If efforts to find Milly are unsuccessful, then Mr Page plans to target Hampshire teams with the poster drop.
Anyone with any information on Milly's disappearance is urged to contact police on 01372 471212.