A SCOTS schoolgirl is feared to have drowned after she disappeared while swimming during a family holiday at a busy seaside resort.

Hollie McClymont, 14, of Glasgow, is thought to have got into difficulties off Barry Island in south Wales.

A joint police and coastguard operation has been launched to search for her with rescue craft, foot patrols and helicopters combing the shoreline on either side of Whitmore Bay, where she was last seen.

Her family said they were worried sick over the disappearance, which happened just before 3pm on Sunday.

Hollie, a pupil at St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, in Jordanhill, Glasgow, had been visiting Barry Island with her mother Sarah and extended family.

Her cousin Shannon said: "You never ever think something like this will happen to someone in your family. We're worried sick and really hope Hollie turns up safe and sound."

One friend, Jamielee Rodgers, tweeted: "Please come home, really miss you so much. Hope you're safe and sound."

Hollie is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall, of average build, with long black hair which is dyed red. She was last seen wearing a multi-coloured floral dress.

Superintendent Marc Lamerton of Barry Police Station, said: "Coastguard are conducting a land and sea search of the area and officers from our specialist search team are also at sea assisting with the search.

"This is obviously a very worrying time for Hollie's family and we are keeping them updated.

"Our last sighting of Hollie is at around 2.45pm in the sea, in the part of the bay nearest the Island Leisure Amusement arcade, Western Shelter, Barry Island."

Supt Lamerton added that, despite the search focusing on the sea, police were to keen hear from anyone who may have seen Hollie on Sunday.

He stressed the island, which has a pleasure park, would have been extremely busy at the time.

The local coastguard has meanwhile expressed surprise that the alarm was not raised sooner. Steve Jones, Swansea Coastguard rescue manager, said teams were "dumbfounded" that up to an hour elapsed before the first report was made.

Searching the sea around the area where she went missing was made a priority yesterday but parallel police inquiries were made on land.

Police checked the address where she was staying and spoke with Holly's friends.

Holiday makers expressed shock yesterday at news of the teenager's disappearance.

Susan Rogers, 65, from Newport, south Wales, said she had been taking her children and now grandchildren to Whitmore Bay for years.

She said: "It is true that you have got to be careful of the tides here. You have got to keep your eye on children and make sure they are out of danger. It's different with teenagers though."

Local councillor and resident Steffan Wiliam said he was very concerned by her disappearance.

He said: "Our stretch of coast has the world's second highest tidal range, second only to the Bay of Fundy [in Canada].

"The main issue is that Whitmore Bay is a pocket shape. You have to be careful but it is generally very safe, particularly now we have lifeguards.

"You always have to be sensible on the beaches here."