THE family of the missing Bathgate pensioner Irene McCawley today appealed for information that can help trace the 77-year-old.
In a statement released on behalf of her family, her son James McCawley (41) said: “As a family, we are supporting each other through this extremely difficult time, and we are very grateful for all the support we have had from the local community.
“For mum to have gone missing without any explanation is very worrying, but we refuse to give up hope that she will be found safe and well.
“On behalf of our family, I am appealing to anyone who thinks they have seen or heard from mum since she went missing to contact police right away.”
Specialist search teams are today carrying out searches in Bathgate and the surrounding countryside as part of the ongoing search for Mrs McCawley, who was reported missing from her home in Beech Road around 6.50pm on Wednesday.
She was last seen around 9am that day, when she left her home to visit a local butcher’s in Elizabeth Drive. She did not arrive at the shop, and has not been seen or heard from since.
She is described as white, 5ft 5ins tall, stocky build, with short white hair. It is believed that she was wearing a blue knee-length jacket and carrying a blue umbrella when last seen.
Inspector Neill Whiteside, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: “Mrs McCawley’s disappearance is very much out of character, and we are anxious to trace her as soon as possible.
“A major search operation is underway involving specialist search officers from Lothian and Borders Police, assisted by Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue, and based at Boghall Community Centre.
“Uniformed officers are also be conducting house-to-house enquiries and engaging with the public in Boghall as part of our response.
“We have had a fantastic response from the local community, and I would like to thank everyone for the assistance and support they have given to police and to the McCawley family.”
Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131.