Costly search for woman in underwear

May 9 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A SLEEPWALKER may have sparked a huge search costing thousands of pounds involving a helicopter, police officers with dogs and search and rescue teams.

They spent up to nine hours searching streets and woodland in Woodham, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, after a man reported seeing an elderly woman clad in just her underwear walking along a residential street at 3am yesterday.

He was about to follow her before she disappeared into the mist.

Shortly after midday police called off the search.

As well as dispatching the force helicopter, they organised a volunteer fell rescue team, and specialist search officers with dogs.

They also carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area around Kimblesworth Walk, Newton Aycliffe, where the woman was spotted.

Inspector Simon Orton, of Durham Police, said inquiries failed to reveal anybody concerned about a missing elderly relative. “No sightings have been made since the initial report, and an intensive search of streets and a heavily wooded area had revealed nothing.

“We have again spoken to the man who contacted us and he is adamant as to what he saw. But after nine hours of searching we have drawn a blank.

“It could be that this lady was sleepwalking and has no idea that she was on the streets.

“Perhaps she was too embarrassed to come forward.

“We have exhausted all our inquiries and the search teams have been stood down.

“It is possible that the search would be resumed in the light of any new information.”