A TEENAGER from London may have been taken by a gang after she disappeared before Christmas, her family fear.

Andrea Bardas, 16, has not been seen since December 21 when she left for school in Barnet in the morning but did not return home at the expected time of 1pm.

Step-dad Philip said he and her mum are desperately trying to find her.

He told My London: “She is a 16-year-old girl who has a happy family home and nothing to worry about in life other than the usual things a 16-year-old might be concerned with.

“Christmas was two days of her parents sleeping in our lounge close to the front door in the hope that she would come back home.

“We have never left the house empty at any time [so someone is there if she comes home] and just want her to return safely.”

Philip added he thought she may have been taken by an “out of town” gang.

He said: “I think that’s what may have happened.

““She is a lovely daughter and has an incredible future ahead of her and we are so worried about her having been drawn into another world until this week we did not know existed.”

Andrea’s mum is up in Manchester helping with the search and handing out “1,000 leaflets”.

If you see her or know anything about her whereabouts, let police know on 101 or contact Missing People on 116 000.