Fears grow after woman vanishes from North Baddesley home (From Daily Echo)

Fears grow after woman vanishes from North Baddesley home

11:00am Friday 6th August 2010 in

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A MASSIVE search operation is underway after a Hamp-shire pensioner went missing from her home.

Christine Watson left her North Baddesley house on Wednesday morning without her handbag, mobile phone or beloved pet dog, and has not been seen since.

Detectives say the disappearance is completely out of character for the 69-year-old mother-of-three, and they are increasingly concerned for her safety.

Specialist teams spent yesterday scouring woodland near her Tanners Road home. Officers knocked on every door in her estate and started delivering 1,000 leaflets urgently appealing for help from the public.

The police spotter plane was sent up throughout the day as around 30 specially-trained officers and detectives joined 20 volunteers from Hantsar (Hampshire Search and Rescue) using sniffer dogs in the hunt for Mrs Watson.

Several farms and a nearby golf course have also been checked as part of the search.

The widow was last seen at around 9.30am on Wednesday by one of her sons, but it is not known where she went after she left home.

With no reported sightings, detectives are sifting through all available CCTV footage from the area in a bid to find which direction Mrs Watson travelled in.

Detective Sergeant Jamie Wiseman from Eastleigh CID told the Daily Echo last night that Christine is a keen walker who does not have access to a car.

He said: “She’s a fit 69-year-old woman and can walk for several miles if she wants to.

“She’s never gone missing before, and the concerning thing for us is she’s gone out and hasn’t taken her dog or personal belongings.

“It’s unusual for her to go out for this length of time without her dog.”

Christine, who suffers from depression and memory loss, is urged to get in touch straight away.

She is described as white, 5ft, of medium build with short, dyed red hair and is said to look younger than her age.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh CID on 101.