'You're not in trouble, we just want you back' – that is a father's emotional plea to his missing 15-year-old daughter after she unexpectedly left home.

Eastern Daily Press: Tilly Rawling. Picture: MATTHEW RAWLINGTilly Rawling. Picture: MATTHEW RAWLING (Image: Archant)

Matthew Rawling first realised his daughter Tilly was missing when her sister went into her bedroom on Sunday morning to ask if she wanted pancakes and noticed the window was open.

MORE: Father's heartfelt plea for 'missing' 15-year-old girl to return homeThe family then mounted an extensive search for the Old Buckenham High School pupil, driving around the Attleborough area in a bid to find her and contacting her friends to see if there had been any sightings.

Friends and the wider community have rallied round, with thousands of people sharing an appeal poster on social media and taxi drivers distributing leaflets.

Tilly called her family from a telephone number beginning in 028 at about 7.20am on Monday but the line went dead when her dad asked if someone was with her.

Eastern Daily Press: A poster appeal for the returning of Tilly Rawling. Picture: MATTHEW RAWLINGA poster appeal for the returning of Tilly Rawling. Picture: MATTHEW RAWLING (Image: Archant)

'I said: 'How are you?' and she said: 'Everything is fine,'' Mr Rawling said.

'I asked her where she was and she said it didn't matter.

'I said: 'Of course it matters.' I then asked if she had someone with her and then the phone went dead.'

After calling the number back repeatedly, the family discovered the call was made from a telephone box in Hammersmith, London.

Eastern Daily Press: Tilly Rawling. Picture: MATTHEW RAWLINGTilly Rawling. Picture: MATTHEW RAWLING (Image: Archant)

Mr Rawling, a paramedic with the NHS 111 helpline, believes she got a bus into Norwich from her home in Lavender Close, Attleborough and then possibly a train or coach to London.

However he has had no contact with her since Monday.

He is particularly concerned as she left home without a mobile phone and with only the clothes she was wearing.

Asked what his message to Tilly was, Mr Rawling said: 'She's not in trouble.

'That's what the problem is I'm guessing – she's scared to come back.

'She's just like a typical teenager. She does a lot of reading, she loves watching TV with her sister and she loves her music and drama.

'We're not upset with her, we just want her back. We really miss her and her brother and sister miss her.'

Speaking of the support the family has received from the wider community in trying to find Tilly, Mr Rawling said: 'Everyone has been amazing. It gives a positive from lots of negatives.'

Tilly lives with her 12-year-old sister and 10-year-old brother.

They spend a few days a week with their father in Attleborough and the rest of the time with their mother, Nicola Walker, in Quidenham.

Tilly is described as 5ft 7in tall, of slim build and with waist-length, wavy blonde and mousy-coloured hair.

At the time she left home, she was believed to be wearing a hat with the letters NYC on the front, as well as a hooded Slazenger top and black jeans.

She was also possibly carrying a rucksack.

Mr Rawling has asked anyone with information to contact police or by searching Matthew Rawling on Facebook.