Tia Sharp Missing: Grandmother Christine Sharp Breaks Down As Search Continues (PICTURES)

Grandmother Breaks Down As Week-Long Search For Tia Continues
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The grandmother of Tia Sharp, the 12-year-old who went missing seven days ago from New Addington, south London, broke down in tears on Friday.

Christine Sharp, 46, said: "My only message to Tia is that I love her. She is my life. I don't know where she has gone. I don't know how she's gone.”

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Christine Sharp has been in the community looking for missing Tia

Mrs Sharp said that she didn’t think Tia was “staying away by choice”, adding: "I just don't know what else to say."

The grandmother also admitted that she did not know where Tia's mother is, adding "she needed to get away".

On Friday, police handed out fliers on the transport routes that service the area, concentrating on the buses and trams.

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Tia Sharp went missing last Friday

"We will help the police and anybody and everybody else in every way I can, so will every member of my family,” said Mrs Sharp.

"We are going to cause them no obstruction whatsoever. Whatever they want to do they can do it, no problem. I just want my baby back."

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Tia Missing posters adorn railings in the local community

Stuart Hazell, the 37-year-old partner of Mrs Sharp, is believed to be the last person to see the missing girl, who went to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon last Friday and hasn’t been seen since.

Tia had spent the night alone with Hazell on the Thursday before going to the shopping centre on Friday. According to Hazell, who was questioned by police, another witness saw Tia leaving the house.

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Hazell mobbed by media on Thursday

Hazell, who was jailed for three years in 2003 for dealing crack cocaine, has admitted that he has a shady past, but said he would never hurt the girl.

He originally dated Natalie, Tia's mother, but currently lives with her grandmother.

Speaking to ITV News on Friday, Hazell said: "My previous has got nothing to do with it. Everyone has a shady past... It’s not about me it’s about Tia - we have got to get her home."

Both Hazell and Mrs Sharp took the streets on Friday morning, handing out flyers.

"The way people have been is absolutely fantastic,” said Mrs Sharp.

"Obviously we have had the odd ones that have been whatever, but we can't thank them and praise them enough, I really, really can't.

The party was wearing T-shirts that read "Tia Missing".

"All I want is all these t-shirts on the field, on the bonfire with Tia standing here," said Mrs Sharp, adding that Tia's mother was "in bits".

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Police search the bins near the house of Mrs Sharp and Stuart Hazell

She said: "Stuart is out doing his own... we've all done our own little separate bit and Stuart's out doing that now."

Asked what he was doing she said: "I don't know, I don't know where he is.

"Whatever way he is he has had it hard.

"He knows the finger has been pointed at him.

"He knows this and it's been really hard for him.

"That's literally all I can tell you."

On Friday morning, police officers arrived at the Sharp house, leaving half an hour later with evidence bags.

According to the Press Association, dog handlers also entered the house with a German Shepherd on Friday.