Police are appealing for help to trace this teenage runaway who has been missing from his foster home for a month.

Matthew Stanley, 14, has not been seen since leaving his foster home on May 27 but he is believed to be staying in the North Wales or Shropshire areas.

The teenager, from Gloucester, has made numerous telephone calls from the Talybont, Barmouth area and police believe he may be wishing to stay close to his birth mother who lives in Wellington, near Telford in Shropshire.

Previously he sent a letter to his mother post marked North Wales on June 1. A subsequent letter was sent from Lancashire on June 4. Officers are very concerned for his safety and welfare. He is known to be very distressed.

Matthew lived at his foster home in Tuffley, Gloucester, for almost a year before leaving last month.

"Police are very concerned for his welfare due to his age and circumstances and are keen to find him," said spokeswoman Ruth McDonagh.

He is 5ft 6ins tall, very slim, with short light brown hair and suffers from acne. He was last seen wearing light beige trousers, beige trainers and a red top.

Police and social services have appealed to Matthew to go to the nearest police station where he will be looked after and any worries of problems he has can be talked over with his social worker Gill.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts or who sees a boy fitting this description should call Gloucestershire police on 01452 521201 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.