Police have stepped up their search for a woman who disappeared late on New Year’s Day.

Gillian Merrick is believed to have left her home in Oundle, Northamptonshire at about 2am last Friday. She was last seen walking along the A605 towards Thrapston at 2am to 3am on Friday morning."

Mrs Merrick, who has two children, was seen about two hours later walking along the A605 towards Thrap-ston, about a quarter of a mile from the Oundle roundabout. About 50 volunteers joined teams of officers and a specialist dog team in a search of local countryside, aided by a police helicopter. Police said that they were very concerned for her safety because it was out of character for her not to contact friends or family.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Cox said yesterday: “We are very grateful to have so many volunteers here who are concerned about Gillian Merrick and want to help us find her.

“We would like everyone who lives in the area to check sheds, outbuildings and anywhere else where she may have taken shelter from the cold.”

Her husband, Nicholas, 49, told Sky News: “She could be just tucked up in a corner, just waiting for help . . . and if anyone can do that, it would be joyful.”

Mrs Merrick is about 5ft 6in, of slim build and fair complexion with collar-length straight brown hair. She is believed to have been wearing a beige jacket, red scarf and gloves.

Her disappearance came without warning after she had spent New Year’s Eve at home with her husband and their children, Tom, 15, and Charlotte, 14.

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