Woman feared drowned in burn

A MAJOR search and rescue operation was launched yesterday after a woman was swept away in a swollen burn.

Police and members of Moffat Mountain Rescue team and Nith Inshore Rescue were called in after the woman apparently fell from a quad bike.

The hunt concentrated on the area around Burnsands Burn near Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire. , but by dusk last night there was still no trace of the missing woman.

The alarm was raised at 11am after her bike was found lying on its side against a tree about half a mile from the A76 Dumfries- Kilmarnock Road. A jacket is also believed to have been recovered nearby.

A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Police, who led the hunt, confirmed that the woman might have fallen into the burn near Crairieknowe Farm about half a mile from Enterkinfoot, a hamlet on the main road.

He said that the missing woman's family had requested that her name should not be disclosed.

Neighbouring farmers and other local people took part in the search along with members of the rescue teams and search and rescue dogs.

They used poles to prod the undergrowth beside the burn that flows into the River Nith.

One volunteer, who did not want to be named, said : "It's rough terrain and the river and burn are swollen after heavy rain. The woman could have gone right into the river and been swept downstream."

A neighbouring farmer's wife commented : "All we know is there has been a tragedy involving our neighbour."