Police make urgent appeal to trace missing pensioner

AN urgent appeal was made by police today for people in West Somerset to help find a Westcountry pensioner who has gone missing from a care home.
Police said they were becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Isabel Macdonald (pictured), aged 71.
She was last seen leaving her care home in Lindridge Road, Torquay, South Devon at 8.30 am on Saturday.
Now, Avon and Somerset Constabulary has circulated an appeal on behalf of the Devon and Cornwall force in an effort to widen the search for Mrs Macdonald.
She was described as white, 5 ft 2 in tall, of slight build, with wavy grey hair.
Mrs Macdonald was last seen wearing a light coloured grey mac and carrying a shoulder bag.
She walks with the aid of a stick.
Anybody who has had a sighting of Mrs Macdonald, or has any information as to her whereabouts, should contact Devon and Cornwall Police by calling 08452 777444 and quoting log number 837 24/01/09.

Missing Nafisa is found safe in London

A TEENAGE girl who went missing 13 days ago has been found safe and well, police said today.
Nafisa Diyar (pictured), aged 13, of Minehead, disappeared on Sunday, January 4, during a trip to a Devon activity park.
She was thought to have headed for London on board a train to contact a relative who lived in the city, although she never arrived at the woman’s address.
After an appeal for help from the public, Nafisa was discovered yesterday in Ealing, West London, although police did not issue any further details of what had happened to her.
Police had been concerned that Nafisa was ‘vulnerable’ because of her young age.
The media was thanked by police for its help in locating missing Nafisa.

Missing teenager sparks public appeal for help by police

POLICE have appealed for help from the public in finding a teenage girl who has gone missing from Minehead.
Thirteen-year-old Nafisa Diyar (pictured) has not been seen since Sunday, January 4.
She was on a trip to an activity park in Devon when she left the park without anybody knowing she had gone.
It was thought that Nafisa boarded a train to London and tried to contact a relative who lives in the city, but she failed to arrive at the woman’s address.
Police believe Nafisa headed to the Southall area of London, but she is also known to have links to Leicester.
Nafisa was said to be ‘vulnerable’ because of her young age.
She is described as having brown eyes and black afro-style hair and when last seen she was wearing blue jeans, a black and white striped hooded top, and a grey scarf.
Allyson Murray, who is co-ordinating the search for Nafisa, said: “I want to appeal to Nafisa to get in touch with me so that we know she is okay.
“If anybody has seen Nafisa since Sunday I would urge them to call me so that we can piece together Nafisa’s movements and find her.
“Please be vigilant when you are out and about and if you see Nafisa or have any other information about her, please call Avon and Somerset Police on 0845 456 7000.”

Mystery woman in sea is missing Herefordshire pensioner

A WOMAN found dead in the sea off Watchet has been identified as a pensioner from Herefordshire who disappeared from her home in the early hours of November 7.
Marion Warwick (pictured), aged 75, was spotted floating 550 yards off Watchet Harbour a week ago by Scooby Doo Too fishing boat skipper Steve Yeandle.
Police appealed for any information which might help to identify her, and cross-checked missing persons reports before dental records revealed her identity.
The West Somerset Coroner, Michael Rose, yesterday opened an inquest into Mrs Warwick’s death, and adjourned the proceedings to a date to be fixed.
A post mortem examination has been carried out on Mrs Warwick to determine a cause of death, but the results were said to be inconclusive.
Mrs Warwick, who lived in Wilton, Ross-on-Wye, was last seen by her husband Christopher at about 3 am on November 7 when she got out of bed.
When Mr Warwick woke again later in the morning, there was no trace of his wife, who was known occasionally to suffer loss of memory and who was on medication for a heart condition.
He immediately called the police.
The couple’s home was not far from the River Wye, which eventually empties into the River Severn close to the original Severn Bridge.
A spokesman for the coroner said the inquest was likely to be transferred to the coroner in Ross-on-Wye, where it was thought Mrs Warwick entered the water.
Police said they were not looking for anybody else in connection with Mrs Warwick’s death.
Mr Yeandle said: “I am pleased she has been identified and her family are aware. I am pleased we did the little we could and my thoughts are with the family this Christmas. I am sorry for their loss.”

Police find missing mother and five girls in Germany

A MISSING mother and her five daughters, whom residents and visitors in West Somerset were asked to watch out for, have been found today in Germany.
The family disappeared from their home in Sunderland six months ago and a nationwide search was launched for them.
Now, Natalie Bracht, aged 34, who was said to suffer from a personality disorder, and her daughters aged from five to 13 years, have been found safe and well in Germany.
Northumbria Police were supported by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and other forces across the country and in Europe before the family was discovered in Munich.
The five children have been placed in the care of German authorities.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said they were working with their German counterparts and would speak with Ms Bracht ‘in due course’.
The spokesman said: “I am happy that the girls have been found safe and well.
“I would like to thank the public and the media for their help and assistance in this matter.”

• Our photographs of the family were released by police from CCTV taken at a London train station. Photos submitted.

Police appeal for help to trace 'vulnerable' missing man

POLICE are appealing for help from the public in West Somerset in tracing a missing man from Ramsden, Chipping Norton.
Andrew Wallis (pictured), aged 51, was last seen on November 12 and it is now thought he could be in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area.
Mr Wallis is described as white, around 6 ft 4 ins tall, of muscular build, and was clean shaven.
Sgt Phil Bennett, based at Chipping Norton police station, said: “We are concerned for Mr Wallis’ welfare as he is extremely vulnerable.
“I appeal to anybody who has seen a man of this description or knows of his whereabouts to please contact police immediately on 0845 8 505 505.”
Anybody with information which could assist police inquiries is urged to contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505.
Or, if they do not want to speak directly to police and do not want to leave a name, they can contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Police renew appeal for information about missing family

PEOPLE living and working in West Somerset are being asked to help in the search for a missing mother and her five daughters.
Police today released new CCTV stills of the family (pictured) and renewed their appeal for more information on their whereabouts.
Natalie Bracht, aged 35, left her home in Sunderland on May 17 with her daughters – who are aged between five and 13 years - when she learned they might be taken into care.
Northumbria Police and Sunderland City Council's Children's Services were this week been granted a High Court order for public identification of the five girls as part of their efforts to trace Natalie and her daughters.
Det Chief Inspector Ian Bentham, who is leading the search, said: “Following the decision at the High Court to allow the identification of Natalie’s five daughters, we can today release for the first time these CCTV stills without obscuring the girls’ faces.
“They were taken on Saturday, May 17, at 6.20 pm, at King’s Cross Railway Station, in London.
“In them, Natalie is seen wearing a flowing white robe and head scarf while some of her daughters also seem to be wearing headscarves.
“We do not know how Natalie and the girls are dressed now - they may have altered their appearance several times – however, we are asking people to keep an eye open for them.”
The search for Natalie is being conducted nationwide.
Anybody with information can call Northumbria Police on 03456 043 043, or contact the Missing People charity on 0500 700 700 or email seensomeone@missingpeople.org.uk.
All calls and emails can be dealt with in the strictest confidence.