The daughter of a North-East pensioner who has been missing from home for more than a week yesterday appealed for help in finding her.

Beatrice Johnson, 82, was last seen at her home in Gosforth, Newcastle, at 8.30pm on January 30, and nothing has been heard of her since.

Police have made extensive inquiries, both within the Northumbria Police force area and in Birmingham, where the 82-year-old lived some years ago.

Her daughter Pauline Handy, speaking at a Press conference at Etal Lane police station in Newcastle, said yesterday: "My mother loves being with people and often talks and sings to strangers - singing little ditties to them. She cannot help herself. She likes to make people happy and will joke on with them.

"Someone must have seen her - she cannot just simply have disappeared. Someone must have seen her leave her home, get on a bus, Metro or train.

"She loved going out but would never go anywhere dark or isolated and was very aware of her own personal safety - always carrying her handbag with the strap across her body. We would urge anyone who has seen her to contact police, how would they feel if it was their mother or grandmother?"

Detective Inspector Peter Reeve, of Newcastle Area Command, said they were concerned about Mrs Johnson because of her age, her health and the cold weather.

He said: "Already we have contacted hospitals, hotels, hostels and other places where Mrs Johnson could have been seen and have made use of search teams, the marine unit, search and rescue, the dogs section and the force helicopter."

Anyone who thinks they have seen Mrs Johnson should contact Northumbria Police on 0845 604-3043.