An estimated 100,000 children run away from home every year, often from family conflict. Many are drawn into a world of drug and alcohol abuse, and sometimes into sexual exploitation.

Fifteen-year-old Laura has run away from home more than 150 times in two years, often putting herself at great risk. In one three-month period she was brought home by the police 58 times and sometimes went missing for two weeks at a time. Laura’s mum placed her in care after her behaviour spiralled out of control.

Director Julia Stovell follows Laura over five months as she is taken into care on an emergency placement and then moved to a children’s home near Blackpool, where staff try to work out what she is running from and what she may be running to…