A mother and father are pleading with their son to get in touch after being missing for nearly a week.

The Metropolitan Police force says it is extremely concerned for the welfare Lucas Opanuga, who is missing from his home in Southgate.

The 21-year-old was last seen by his family at around 4pm on Tuesday, February 22, when he left the family home to go to shops in Enfield.

He is a student at Portsmouth University and had returned home to London on February 8.

Lucas’s mother and father, Larissa and Adetola, have appealed directly to their son.

They said: “Wherever you are Lucas, we love you so much and we want you to be safe. Contact us to let us know that you’re safe. We really want to help you and we miss you so much.”

On the day he went missing, Lucas is thought to have caught a bus to Enfield.

Police enquiries suggest he was in the EN9 postcode area on the evening of 22 February.

There has been no trace of him since.

DS Marc Robinson of the Met’s North Area Safeguarding team said: “We are doing all that we can to find Lucas and to support his family.

“On Saturday, 26 February, the police helicopter was used to assist officers in a search of Epping Forest, which is near to the EN9 area where we last have any trace of Lucas. 

“A number of other lines of inquiry are being followed-up as a priority. We are extremely concerned for Lucas’s welfare - if you may have seen him, please get in touch immediately.”

Lucas is described as a light skinned black man, 6ft 2ins tall and of slim build. When last seen he was wearing a yellow hooded top.

Anyone who may have seen Lucas is asked call 101 and quote ref 7952/22feb.