Turkish -Syria border
A fighter stands guard near the Syria-Turkey border AFP

A family of seven, including five children, have been reported missing and are believed to have travelled to Turkey, police say. The family, married couple Imran, 39 and Farzana Ameen, 40, were last seen on 5 October.

They are believed to have travelled to Turkey with their five children, aged five to 15. Their current whereabouts are not known. Although West Yorkshire Police did not say if they thought the family was travelling to Syria, Turkey is the main route for people seeking to enter Isis-controlled territory, according to the Independent.

The children's welfare was the "primary concern", police said. They are working with the relatives of the family who are still in the UK and that "lines of enquiry are currently being progressed with the Turkish authorities."

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said: "We would urge anyone with information about the family's whereabouts to come forward and speak to police so the family can safely return to the UK. Any piece of information, no matter how small, could help the UK or overseas authorities to locate the family, so that they can be safely returned home to their loved ones."

Anyone with information should call West Yorkshire Police on 101. The family has appealed to the media to respect their privacy at this "upsetting time."

According to police, at least 700 British people have gone to join or live under jihadist groups, usually Isis, in either Syria or Iraq. So far, about half have returned to the UK.