UPDATED Thursday 9.45am: POLICE have confirmed Katie was found in North Yorkshire following the appeal to the public, and is receiving the support and care she needs. 

A spokeswoman thanked the public for their help in locating Katie.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POLICE are concerned for a teenager from York who has gone missing from a Yorkshire hospital.

Katie Free, 18, left Grimsby General Hospital, where she was receiving in-patient treatment, at just before 1pm on Sunday, and has not been seen since.

She has not been seen since then, and Humberside Police said they are concerned for her welfare due to an existing medical condition.

Katie is described as being white and of pale complexion with blue eyes and red hair often worn in a ponytail. She is 5ft 7ins tall and of thin build and wears glasses. When last seen she was wearing black leggings with boots and a blue coloured top and a coat over the top.

Police believe Katie is with her boyfriend Will Gilligan, who is from the Darlington area, and said they may have travelled together to the east coast of North Yorkshire.

Chief Inspector Mark Bishop in charge of Operational Policing for North East Lincolnshire said: "Katie’s welfare is our main priority and as time moves on our concern is growing due to her ongoing health issues.

"It is important that we locate Katie as quickly as possible so that we can ensure she receives the support she urgently needs.

"We are appealing to Katie to make contact, either with her family or the emergency services at the earliest opportunity. We would also ask the public to help us by calling us to inform us if they see Katie and provide us with details of her whereabouts."

Katie or anyone with information should phone Humberside Police on 101.