A TEENAGER who has been missing for more than two weeks has been in touch with various people to say he is safe and well, police have said.

TeeJay Huggett, 14, was last seen in Thornaby, near Stockton on Sunday, February 10 and Cleveland Police have been trying to find him.

Now officers are appealing for TeeJay to contact the police directly and have issued a new photograph of him.

Cleveland Police said it was understood the boy had spoken to various people in Thornaby to say he was fine.

She said that addresses have been searched and police are continuing to speak to family and friends in order to trace him. It is believed that there are people who TeeJay knows who are aware of where he is.

A police spokeswoman said: “Officers want to send a strong message to these people that they are not helping TeeJay or themselves by holding onto this information.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101.