Police worry lady was swept to her loss of life

A lady who went lacking from a quiet village on the Welsh-English border simply earlier than Christmas in all probability fell to her loss of life in a flood-swollen river, police worry.

Lucy Charles, 39, described by colleagues as ‘essentially the most welcoming of individuals’ and somebody who had ‘an enormous smile and laughter after each different sentence’, has been lacking from Bangor-on-Dee, close to Wrexham, for precisely two weeks.

Yesterday police revealed they had been rising ‘more and more involved for the protection’ after recovering a few of her private possessions on the banks of the River Dee, which is at the moment virtually double its depth of just some weeks in the past.

Now it has emerged that their ‘working speculation’ is that Ms Charles fell into the River Dee by accident on December 22 and was swept to her loss of life.

The belongings point out she didn’t enter the water intentionally, sources stated immediately, and there aren’t regarded as any suspicious circumstances.

Her social media exhibits a busy social life with current overseas holidays and nights out together with her accomplice, Ian Beech.

Poignantly her final public submit three days earlier than she was final seen learn merely: ‘I like my mummy.’

Ms Charles is known to have labored in pubs within the scenic border village of Bangor-on-Dee and was identified to get pleasure from studying a e-book beside the broad river.

She is claimed to know the world properly and was seen earlier on the day of her disappearance at a neighborhood store.

However the final identified sighting of her – at 5.34pm on December 22 – was after darkish, and she or he was sporting a high-visibility jacket for causes which haven’t been defined.

Efforts to look the close by stretch of water have been hampered by heavy rain in current weeks which have raised the extent by over 6ft, with the present making it too harmful for police divers to enter.

Relatives had been stated to be clinging to hope that Ms Charles can be discovered alive, whereas making ready for the worst.

Earlier this week her mom Vicky posted on Facebook: ‘Lucy continues to be lacking. Please, please preserve sharing. I like you a lot.’

Asking locals in Bangor-on-Dee to assist, she wrote: ‘Just examine any sprint cam or Ring door bells and preserve every part crossed for Lucy’s return.’

In response, buddy Julie Quinn wrote: ‘I am unable to think about what Vicky goes via at this second. I hope and pray Lucy is secure.’

Sharing the enchantment on Wednesday, chef Brian Mellor wrote: ‘You may bear in mind her as essentially the most welcoming of individuals at The Sandstone Inn, that large smile and laughter after each different sentence.

‘She was additionally a part of the cookery college household working with Mary and I, submit service we might sit collectively reflecting on the night’s occasions and the state of hospitality typically. ‘Please share when you can, all of us need you residence mate.’

Today Ms Charles’ accomplice shared the anguish of her family and friends as they watch for updates.

‘The police have been protecting us knowledgeable each day,’ stated Mr Beech, who lives with Ms Charles within the subsequent village. They’re doing nice work.

‘The river’s as excessive as I’ve ever seen it. When it will get flooded like this it is virtually not possible to get into the water.

‘Sadly I do not suppose something can be discovered till the river begins to go down.’

The water stage within the Dee was recorded at a median of 6.84m (22ft 5in) on the day Ms Charles was final seen, 2m (6ft 6in) deeper than at first of September.

Yesterday that had surged to eight.9m (29ft 2in), one of many highest readings previously 12 months.

‘It’s been very tough to get police divers into the river so that they’re having to look the world with boats as a substitute,’ a supply stated.

‘The water coming down the river is quicker and wider than regular, and it is also spreading out into close by undergrowth.

‘Hopefully the extent will drop over the subsequent few days they usually can set up precisely what occurred.’

North Wales Police haven’t given particulars of the private results of Ms Charles which has been discovered.

But they’re understood to help the speculation that she by some means slipped in by accident and was tragically swept to her loss of life.

On her personal Facebook profile, Ms Charles has shared a number of updates from the Royal Oak pub, located near the place she was final seen.

She additionally particulars assembly up with kinfolk, visiting magnificence spots, going to gigs and a visit to the Canary Islands final October.

Ms Charles was final seen sporting a navy padded coat, hi-vis vest, khaki-coloured leggings and black boots.

Renewing their enchantment for public assist yesterday, North Wales Police warned in opposition to getting too near the River Dee, which they stated is in a ‘very harmful state of flooding at the moment’.

Chief Inspector Stephen Roberts stated: ‘It has been a very tough time for Lucy’s household, particularly on condition that we simply had the festive interval.

‘During the final two weeks now we have carried out in depth inquiries and searches of each the river Dee and the native space.

‘Our searches proceed and Lucy’s household are being stored knowledgeable. My ideas stay with Lucy’s household at this tough time.’

 He additionally stated yesterday night: ‘Lucy was final seen on the twenty second of December in Station Road, Bangor-on-Dee at 5.34pm when she was captured on CCTV strolling previous the Royal Oak.

‘Since this time in depth searches have taken place which have led us to search out private objects of Lucy’s on the financial institution of the River Dee near the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works. During the final two weeks now we have carried out in depth enquiries and searches of each the river Dee and the native space.

‘I want to thank everybody who has assisted within the searches together with the native mountain rescue workforce, the fireplace service, the police helicopter and the police below water search workforce who’ve carried out in depth water based mostly searches in tough climate and water circumstances, from Bangor on Dee to Chester. Their searches proceed to happen.

‘I’d additionally like thank members of the general public who’ve responded to our earlier appeals. 

‘My ask is for anybody who was in Bangor on Dee on these dates to suppose back- did you see Lucy in any respect? She was sporting a navy padded coat, considerably with a Hi-Viz vest, khaki-coloured leggings and black boots. 

‘If you’re feeling that you just did then please contact North Wales Police both on-line or 101, even if you’re not sure it was Lucy, please tell us.

‘The River Dee is in a really harmful state of flooding at the moment and I’d urge members of the general public to not enterprise close to the river. Our searches proceed; and Lucy’s household are being stored knowledgeable. Finally, my ideas stay with Lucy’s household at this tough time.’

Anyone who might have info is requested to contact North Wales Police urgently through their web site or by calling 101, quoting reference quantity 46914.