Is this missing Betty last week?

Police are investigating a possible sighting on CCTV

Officers today released a CCTV image that they think could be Betty Brown outside the Sainsbury's in Deanhaugh Street, Stockbridge, after a call from a member of the public who thought they may have spotted the missing woman.

Family members of the missing 55-year-old have seen the image and believe there is a genuine likeness to Mrs Brown, who was last seen on May 28. The witness saw the woman walking past the store at 1pm last Tuesday and making her way into Raeburn Place, where she stopped to look in the window of an estate agent. She then turned and walked back in the direction she came, past Sainsbury's, before being lost to sight.

Police are now anxious for any information regarding the woman's identity, and are appealing for help in tracing her.

A police spokesman said: "These images, taken from CCTV, show a woman wearing a distinctive red jacket who bears a resemblance to Betty, and we are keen to trace this woman in order to satisfy ourselves as to her identity.

"Our inquiries into Betty's disappearance continue, and we remain keen for any new information that can help us establish her whereabouts.

"She was last seen getting off a number 3 LRT bus in Nicolson Street at 11.55am on Friday, May 28, and from there we know that she crossed the street and visited the cash machine at the Royal Bank of Scotland on Nicolson Street.

"The trail ends there, and we are appealing for anyone who can help us establish her movements after this point to get in touch."

While the new images show a woman resembling Mrs Brown, she does have a different hairstyle and different clothes.

The woman was spotted on the same day the Evening News carried an appeal from Mrs Brown's pregnant daughter, Sarah Smith, 23, who said she wanted her mother home to see the birth of her grandchild.

She described Mrs Brown as a loving and caring person and said trying to cope with the stress of her disappearance had been an ordeal.

"It's hard to live day-to-day life, it's a living nightmare," said Mrs Smith, who lives in Gretna with her husband and two children.

Mrs Brown, from Gorgie, was reported missing after failing to return to work at a care home in Gilmerton following a week's holiday.

Mrs Brown, also known by the surname Hunt, was last seen wearing a black jacket, open-neck blouse, blue jeans and black shoes, and was carrying two large Aldi carrier bags. She is described as around 5ft 7in, with fair hair, and glasses.

Originally from Hawick, police believe she may have travelled to her hometown from Nicolson Street but sources say her disappearance is out of character. Ever since Mrs Brown went missing, her bank cards have been unused and her mobile phone has remained switched off.