The family of a Muslim woman feared to have fled to Syria with her partner and young children have made an emotional appeal for her to get in touch, saying "we miss you".

Sara Kiran, 29, her partner Asif Malik, 31, and their four children aged under seven were seen boarding a ferry from Dover to Calais on April 8. The family, from Slough, Berks, are then believed to have travelling south through Europe by train, according to Thames Valley Police.

Ms Kiran's family released a statement through the force, urging her and Mr Malik to let them know they and the children are safe.

They said: "Sara, we want to let you know that we love you; we miss you, Asif and the grandchildren. You are not in trouble, we are not angry or upset, and we just want you to return home safely."

Police have stressed their disappearance is still a missing persons inquiry, but are deeply concerned that the direction of travel appears to be towards Syria where brutal jihadi group Islamic State (Isil) is fighting to establish a Muslim caliphate.

The latest appeal comes the day after members of Asif Malik's distraught family issued a desperate plea for the 31-year-old to come home, saying they were "totally distraught, upset and in shock".

The couple have a seven-year-old daughter named Zoha Malik, and sons Essa Malik, four, Zakariya Malik, two, and Yhaya Malik, one.

Officers think the group caught the 12.30am ferry from Dover 12 days ago, and might have travelled across Europe by train and through Budapest on or around Sunday April 12.

Police inquiries have revealed the family's "general direction of travel is towards Turkey", and "potentially towards Syria".

Thames Valley's Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell yesterday said: "Given the online rhetoric from the Islamic State encouraging people to travel to Syria, the direction of travel and concerns voiced by Asif's family, we are concerned the family may be seeking to travel to Syria."

He added the force would be "happy to be proved wrong", and urged the family to make contact and put any concerns to rest.

Police have also admitted they may be too late to stop Mr Malik and his family, given the time that has elapsed since the British passport holders left the UK - they were only reported missing on Thursday April 16.