Relatives of missing Mary speak of torment

THE stepdaughter of a frail pensioner who has been missing for more than two years has spoken movingly of her family's torment as they wait for news.

Mary Ferns vanished during a shopping trip that took her from her Livingston home to Edinburgh city centre.

The frail 88-year-old was spotted by CCTV cameras as she made her way eastwards along Princes Street and past the Balmoral Hotel on 17 June 2008. But no-one has been able to unravel what happened next.

Tonight, Anne Foster, 46, will make a television plea for help finding Mary - also known as May - in a bid to end their ordeal. And she has sent a touching message of support to the family of another missing woman, 38-year-old book-keeper Suzanne Pilley, who vanished from outside her Thistle Street office on 4 May.

"We understand what her family is going through," said Mrs Foster. "My wish for them is to get her found, because the only way they can settle it is by finding out what happened."

Mary was slightly built and asthmatic, a little deaf and partially blind. She had told her husband Bill, 83, that she was popping out to buy some socks. He thought she had gone to Livingston, but CCTV cameras picked her out walking with her distinctive floral walking stick along Princes Street in the direction of Leith Walk.

From there, however, the trail runs cold.

"We are constantly thinking about her, wondering what has happened. We are stuck because we just don't know," said Mrs Foster.

The family, she added, are almost certain that she is probably dead. "In our heart of hearts, we know she would be 90 by now and the likelihood of her still being alive is incredibly slim.

"Maybe she decided to get up and go but there's been no movement in her bank account, she didn't take any clothes or medication. There's no sign she pre-planned anything."

She said the family's nightmare is accentuated by news of other missing person inquiries, including recent publicity surrounding Suzanne Pilley.

"We feel for other families going through this. Like us, they'll find everything they hold dear to themselves is under scrutiny. When I go out to the shops, I know there'll be people who will be pointing at me, whispering, 'That's her whose mother's missing'."

Police carried out a massive search for Mary, which included scanning river beds using sonar technology, and helicopter searches. They scanned more than 300 hours of CCTV footage but have found no further trace of the pensioner.

Her disappearance will be featured on an STV programme Scotland's Missing Mums, tonight at 9pm.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed the inquiry into Mary's disappearance remains open.

"The investigation concerning Mrs Ferns did not go any further than the CCTV image of her passing the Balmoral Hotel. The case will be routinely reviewed, but there has been no progress."