Young UK backpacker missing in New Zealand ‘last seen with man’

At this point, we hold grave fears for her safety.

Grace Millane, from Essex, was last seen at Auckland's Sky City complex on Saturday and didn't respond to messages on her birthday the following day.

Mr Millane said she was always in contact with her family and his parents were anxious.

An apartment at the hotel was a place of interest and is the subject of a scene examination.

The University of Lincoln graduate, who planned to travel around the world, had two mobile phones with her in New Zealand but calls to both are going through to voicemail.

A couple who have been living at the hotel for the last seven months said they were concerned for the girl and her family but had not seen or heard anything.

Detective Scott Beard also gave an update on the case.

Beard said there was no evidence of foul play at this stage and police were speaking with people at the backpackers Millane was staying at - including those she was with on Saturday night.

He told reporters: "Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-orientated daughter".

Police have released the image of Grace Millane, who turned 22 on Sunday. "She's usually in daily contact with her mother, myself, her two brothers. and on social media".

She had previously been in "constant contact" with her family using messaging service 'WhatsApp'.

"She arrived here on the 20th of November, and has been bombarding us with numerous photographs and messages of her adventures", Millane said.

"We're all extremely upset and it's hard to describe the wave of emotions we're going through".

Michael has pleaded with his sister to contact their family because they are anxious about her.

Ms Millane's father David has flown out to New Zealand amid the investigation into her disappearance.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard from Auckland Police was unable to confirm on Friday if Ms Millane had left the hotel.

"The longer this goes on, the more concerning it is".

He would not be drawn on whether Grace knew the man prior to their meeting at the hotel.

And police have reviewed hours and hours of CCTV footage.

Grace Millane was last seen on Saturday evening (local time) in central Auckland.

According to the BBC the silence from Millane is "completely out of character" and her family said they spoke to her "most days".

Grace started this travel journey in Peru in South America and was really looking forward to the second leg in New Zealand.