Police are appealing for assistance from the community to locate a teenage girl missing from Mayfield.

Tara Hipwell, aged 14, was last seen leaving her high school in Mayfield at 3.20pm (Thursday 14 May 2015), she did not arrive at her Waratah home.

Police were notified and Newcastle Local Area Command commenced a search for Tara.

Officers have conducted numerous inquiries and searches however she has not been located.

Due to her age, police hold concerns for her safety and welfare.

Tara is described as being 178cm tall, medium build, light brown hair, blue eyes and has braces.

Investigators are appealing for public assistance to locate the whereabouts of Tara and urge anyone with information to contact Waratah Police Station on 02 4926 6599 or Newcastle Police Station on 02 4929 0999.

Police are appealing for public assistance after rocks were left on rail lines near Newcastle recently.

Just after 5pm on Sunday (17 May 2015), a freight train struck a large rock while travelling on the main line between Wyee and Warnervale railway stations.

The train was not damaged.

A short time later, a passenger train struck rocks on the same tracks and sustained significant damage.

No passengers were injured; however the train was rendered inoperable.

About 5.30pm on Monday (18 May 2015), another passenger train struck rocks on a different track between Wyee and Warnervale stations.

The train was also damaged and rendered inoperable.

Police were alerted and officers from the Police Transport Command are investigating all incidents.

It’s believed the rocks were deliberately placed on the tracks.

Investigators are appealing for anyone with information, or who may have seen suspicious activity on the railway lines, to come forward.