Young refugees go missing from care More foreign children in the care of Newcastle Council have gone missing.

Six refugees from Somalia, aged 11 to 17, were last seen more than three weeks ago. The children, who have the family name Al-Hatmi, arrived in October 2004 and were living in supported accommodation on Tyneside.

A spokesperson for Newcastle Council said: "There's no immediate concern for their safety because we believe they have gone to stay with friends."

Their disappearance comes three months after three asylum-seeking Chinese girls, aged 15 and 16, went missing from the council's care. They are still unaccounted for.