100 helpers join hunt for missing Ludlow woman

Police and volunteers were today resuming their hunt for missing 63-year-old Alethea Taylor.

Mrs Taylor went missing from her home at Orleton, near Ludlow, six days ago.

Lines of up to 100 volunteers yesterday scoured fields, woods and streams surrounding the village in tight formation.

Mrs Taylor has not been seen since 8.30am last Thursday when her husband John left for work. By the time he returned at 4.30pm she had vanished.

Chris Ammonds, for West Mercia Police, said the search was focused on a two mile area around the village.

He said: "A few items have been found such as a walking stick and umbrella but nothing which can be linked back to Mrs Taylor."

Sergeant Spencer Bradley, from West Mercia Police, said the area surrounding the village was proving hard to search.

He said: "It's a very rural area around the village lots of open fields, farmland and coppices of woodland.

"It is a challenging search at the moment but we have a number of people on the ground doing as much as we can as it is.

"Were out there searching, we're searching to find her. We hope to find her."

Villagers say Mrs Taylor is a "fantastic lady" who has been acting as prompter for a local theatre production.

See also:

• Police search launched over missing Ludlow woman

• Rescue teams join in search for missing woman