SEARCHES are continuing in the Whitby area for a missing County Durham who is understood to be in a distressed state of mind.

Julie Gamsby, 59, from Neale Street, Ferryhill, was reported missing by her worried husband on Saturday after she failed to return home.

Searches have been carried out by specialist police teams with dogs, the Coastguard and RNLI supported by the police helicopter after reports that she went to Whitby and was spotted near the pier.

Following enquiries by Durham Constabulary, it was established Mrs Gamsby had been to her cleaning job at the local B&M store early that morning. She then went back to her home address before setting off for Whitby by bus via Darlington between 10am and 11am.

North Yorkshire Police took over the high-risk missing person enquiry after receiving information on Sunday morning that Mrs Gamsby may have been near the East Pier in Whitby.

The force co-ordinated a large scale search during Sunday, which involved specialist police search teams and a police dog, a police helicopter, the Coastguard and RNLI lifeboats.

Enquiries and searches are ongoing today, including checks at local pubs, guest houses and hotels for any sightings or any information about Julie that could assist the effort to locate her.

Mrs Gamsby is described as white, 5ft 3in tall, medium build, with collar length blonde hair. She has numerous tattoos including flowers on her legs and a barbed wire band around her right upper arm. She usually wears gold dangly earrings, rings on her right hand and several bangle bracelets on each wrist. At this stage, it is not known what clothes she was wearing when she travelled to Whitby.

Anyone with information that could assist the missing person inquiry is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police immediately on 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room. Please quote reference number 12170092110.