Police are appealing for help in tracing Natalie Bracht, who disappeared from her home in Hendon with her daughters, aged between five and 13, at lunchtime on Saturday, May 17.

The first images, taken in Newcastle at 2.38pm on the day she disappeared, show the 34-year-old wearing a red Berghaus-style three-quarter length jacket and jeans or trousers.

The second show her walking through Kings Cross in London later the same day, at 6.20pm, wearing a white flowing robe and headscarf.

The children's faces have been obscured for legal reasons.

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Ford, who is leading the search, said: "These CCTV images of Natalie show that somewhere between Newcastle and London she deliberately and radically changed her appearance.

"It shows a high degree of planning and a great deal of effort to evade being identified, which further raises my concerns about her emotional
well-being and the safety of her children.

"They have been away from their home, their friends and their school for more than a week, and that is clearly not in their best interests."

Ms Bracht moved to Sunderland in 2006 from Dusseldorf, Germany, and speaks good English with a heavy German accent.

She is thought to have little or no money and no family connections in the London area. Officers believe she may be being sheltered by an organisation.

Det Insp Ford said: "Natalie does not appear to have had access to money, certainly not enough to look after herself and her five children.

"I cannot rule out that someone or some organisation is offering the family assistance or shelter, possibly for what they believe to be all the right reasons."

Officers from the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police are working together with Northumbria Police to further the investigation.

Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police on (03456) 043 043.

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