Jenny Hall: Search for lacking Durham runner, 23, enters fifth day as police urge locals to not search for her
Specialist drones and ten sniffer dogs have been used in the 100-mile search for a young runner who has been missing for five days.
Jenny Hall, 23, was last seen leaving her home in Tow Law, Country Durham, just after 3pm on Tuesday.
Her car, a red Ford Focus, was later found parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.
Sixty mountain rescue volunteers have been assisting with the search but police are now urging people not to get involved to prevent distracting the expert sniffer dogs.
Durham Police, mountain rescue teams, and HM Coastguard air support are involved in the search, which has involved scouring over a 100 miles of a remote forest in northeast of England.
On Friday, the search concentrated on running trails in Hamsterley Forest, which Ms Hall, who is a keen runner, often uses between Eggleston and Hamsterley.
Her friends and family joined the search.
Police have said the search is continuing despite the ‘challenging weather conditions and terrain’.
Jenny Hall (pictured), 23, was last seen leaving her home in Tow Law, Country Durham, just after 3pm on Tuesday
Pictured: Ms Hall’s red Ford Focus that was later found parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope
Ms Hall is described as being white, six feet tall with dark brown hair, which may have been tied in a ponytail.
She was last seen wearing a blue John Deere hoodie, dark jogging bottoms, and may have been carrying a green jacket.
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: ‘Expert teams with specialist equipment will continue their search for missing woman Jenny Hall today.
‘Officers, assisted by highly-experienced search and mountain rescue teams, will be working in Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas for anything that could help locate the 23-year-old.
‘Specialist drones are also being used in the methodical search which is the latest tool being adopted in the intensive operation.
‘We want to thank the public for their ongoing support and whilst we appreciate the offer of volunteers, we would ask that people do not join the search themselves as this could disturb the ongoing work and potentially distract expert sniffer dogs.’
Digital intelligence officers have checked Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smartwatch and running apps, but have so far found no leads.
Mountain rescue teams (pictured) and sixty mountain rescue volunteers have been assisting with the search
Chief Inspector Dean Haythornthwaite, of Durham Constabulary, said: ‘We have become increasingly concerned for Jenny since she was reported missing on Tuesday and have been exploring all lines of inquiry.
‘We are focusing our search on areas we know Ms Hall likes to run through and we are determined to do everything we can to find her.’
Anyone who sees Jenny has been urged to call 999 and tell police.
