Police ‘extremely concerned’ for missing dog walker

A helicopter and dog units yesterday joined the search for Maureen Bannister, who left Pitcairn Park in Leuchars, Fife, at around 2pm on Sunday in a blue Ford Focus with her dog, a black and grey cross-breed Yorkshire terrier.

Officers said the 43-year-old is known to walk her dog in Tentsmuir Forest, where searches are being focused. The dog was found near her car in the Tayport area shortly after Ms Bannister was reported missing.

Ms Bannister is about 5ft 4in tall, of slim build and has long dark hair. It is not known what she was wearing on Sunday but police said it is likely she had on navy wellingtons and a navy thigh-length jacket with a cream-lined hood. Officers are appealing for anyone who has seen her to contact them.

Yesterday Inspector Paul Dick said: “Our search for Maureen has been under way since around 1am but unfortunately we have not yet located her.

“We are extremely concerned for her welfare, as are her family who are desperate to find her safe and well.

“I’m appealing to anyone who may have seen Maureen, or even spoke with her, to come forward to police immediately.”

Meanwhile, police said that a search for a man reported missing from his Dumfries and Galloway home has been stood down after a body was found yesterday.

Police said the discovery was made in the grounds of Culgruff House Hotel at Crossmichael.

Robert Shaw, 52, was reported missing on Friday, sparking a search involving the Galloway Mountain Rescue Team.

A formal identification has still to take place. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

• A separate search – involving a dog unit, coastguards and an RAF Sea King helicopter – continued last night for missing Stranraer man Dennis Brough, 66, who left home in the town’s Garrick Drive last Wednesday. He is about 6ft tall, with grey hair and a beard.

He was driving a black Landrover Freelander with the licence plate FD05 EBG.