Two missing Perthshire sisters tracked down after nationwide search

Mother shared details on social media in bid to find her girls

Two young Perthshire girls whose disappearance sparked a nationwide search have been traced by police.

Victoria McKinney, from Alyth, made an emotional plea for the return of her two young daughters after they disappeared with their father.

Police officers led a search across Scotland and Northern Ireland for Grace Elizabeth McKinney, 8, and her younger sister Kara McKinney, 5.

They were said to have been travelling the country in a motorhome driven by their father, Michael McKinney.

Last night, police confirmed the sisters had been found safe and well in Larne, Northern Ireland. They were with officers by 10pm. Mr McKinney is understood to have visitation rights but the girls were reported missing by their mother, on Thursday.

She took to social media to plead for help as officers made strenuous efforts to track down the youngsters.

Tens of thousands of people the length and breadth of the UK and Northern Ireland shared her appeal after it was made public.

Grace and Kara were travelling in a cream coloured Eldis Autoquest motorhome with their father, his girlfriend Martina and a three-year-old child.

Reports suggested the group were last seen on a ferry to Larne in Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Caravan enthusiasts are among those who have shared details of the girls and the caravan in the hope of tracking them down.

In an online post, which she begged people to share, Ms McKinney said: “My two daughters Grace and Kara have been missing since Thursday morning.

“They were visiting their father for a week but they have all disappeared. They were seen leaving his flat in Alyth early on Thursday morning, travelling in an Elddis Autoquest campervan which is creamy/green in colour, very old and rough looking.

“They will be with their father Michael McKinney, who is 5ft 10in, and has grey hair worn in a top knot with shaven sides and a goatee and his Czech girlfriend Martina, who is 5ft 5in with shoulder length dark brown hair and heavy build.

“They will also be with her three-yearold boy Woody, who has blond hair, and also a white staffie dog.

“Police are treating the children as highly vulnerable missing persons.

“If you have any information please let us know.”

Police Scotland issued a photograph of the sisters yesterday morning.

A spokesman said: “We can confirm Grace and Kara, who were missing from Perthshire, have been traced safe and well in Northern Ireland.”

“Police confirmed the sisters had been found safe and well

Kara and Grace, who live in Alyth, have been found in Northern Ireland after being reported missing by their mother.