Police have new clues in the hunt for missing Mary, 88

DETECTIVES in West Lothian hunting for a pensioner who disappeared a week ago said today they had new clues after quizzing drivers.

Officers held an operation today exactly a week on from the disappearance of 88-year-old retired nurse Mary Ferns.

One new line of Inquiry is that she could have caught a bus into the Capital.

Road checks were set up by police at the bus stop on Howden East Road across from Braid House at 9.30am today – around the same time that she went missing last week – to question drivers who might have been on the road seven days ago.

A reconstruction of the route from her home to where she was last seen was also staged.

Officers said it had now been established that she was last seen at garages at Labrador Avenue, a short walk from her home on Vancouver Avenue in the Howden area of Livingston, and she is thought to have been heading for a bus stop.

The bus stop serves routes all over West Lothian and Edinburgh and police are now widening the search to the Capital, as it's believed she had her bus pass with her.

DS Richard Hutton, who is in charge of the investigation, said: "Mary is in poor health and very frail.

"There has been an extensive amount of inquiries so far, more so than normal, and we expected something to come from that as we have had a good response from the media and the public. There is no suggestion anyone else is involved.

"We have established that she liked shopping and liked to look presentable and it is not beyond the realms of possibility she could have taken a bus to Edinburgh, but we are still trying to establish if she did get on a bus at this stage."

Police are also keen to trace a distinctive blue patterned walking stick with a brass handle she was carrying when she left home a week ago, after telling her husband William, 83, she was going to buy a pair of tights.

CCTV cameras at Almondvale Shopping Centre have been checked and another one at the park and ride facility on the A899 dual carriageway will be looked at today.

If she boarded a bus at this stop she could have headed west towards Glasgow.

More than 20 police teams have been involved in the search so far and mounted police have also searched the local area.

Mrs Ferns was reported missing by husband William, a former senior nursing officer, at 8pm last Tuesday. The couple, who used to work together at the old Bangour Village Hospital near Broxburn, have been married for 16 years.

The family are desperately worried about her health as Mrs Ferns suffers from asthma and it is not clear whether she has medication with her.

William's daughter, Anne Foster, , 43, who is a benefits adviser for the Maggie's cancer charity, pleaded for anyone with information to contact police.

She said: "This is a very trying and tense time for the family and we are very concerned. for her welfare.

"If anyone has seen her or has information no matter how trivial it might seem, could you please get in touch with police.

"If you do hear this Mary, please get in touch. Even if you don't want to come home, we'd just like to know that you are safe.

"It's extremely difficult not having her around.

"It's been very difficult for dad and is getting more difficult as the days go on. She is very determined and independent but she is quite frail."

Mary, also known as May, is described as around 5ft 3in tall, slim build, grey short hair and green eyes.

She was wearing a brown three-quarter length jacket, brown skirt, brown shoes and carrying a brown handbag. She may still be carrying the distinctive blue floral walking stick with a brass handle.

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131 or the Livingston station on 01506 431200.

Mum is found safe and well
A MISSING mum has been found safe and well.

Catherine O'Donnell vanished from her home in Dalkeith at the weekend.
She was reported missing by family, but has since been found in the Gorebridge area, police said.

The 36-year-old who lives with her husband, 14-year-old daughter, and two sons aged ten and eight, disappeared around midnight on June 22.