Barcelona fans asked to 'keep their eyes open' for missing baby

Thousands of Barcelona supporters will be in England tonight for the Champions League game against Manchester City

Lionel Messi pictured training at the Etihad (GETTY IMAGES)

Barcelona fans in England for Tuesday night's Champions League tie at Manchester City have been urged to be on the lookout for a missing baby and her parents, after a High Court judge raised the alarm.

Council bosses in Harrow, north-west London, said four-month-old Farah Afzal - who is at the centre of proceedings in the Family Division of the High Court in London - was thought to be in the Spanish city with her father, Mohammed Afzal, 38, and mother, Zainab Rasul, 30.

They appealed for help finding Farah after Mr Justice Keehan gave permission for the little girl's identity to be revealed in the hope that publicity would lead to her discovery,.

"There are tens of thousands of Barcelona fans in the UK tonight for the big game," said Harrow Council leader Susan Hall.

"My appeal is to those fans to keep their eyes open for baby Farah and her parents when they go home."

Ms Hall said the council began care proceedings following Farah's birth and social workers had concerns about her welfare.

PA