The daughter of a missing Pitlochry pensioner is refusing to give up hope that her beloved mother will be found safe and well.
Elizabeth Stevenson disappeared from her home in Aldour Gardens more than a week ago prompting one of the largest search operations the area has seen in recent years.
Despite the efforts of police, Tayside Mountain Rescue, RAF helicopter staff, inshore lifeboat crews and search and rescue dog teams the ”vulnerable” 77-year-old has still not been traced.
In a heartfelt appeal for help daughter Fiona Kerr asked the public to report any relevant information however trivial it may first appear.
Mrs Kerr said: ”It’s just our heart’s desire that somebody somewhere has got some information that’ll lead to her safe return. It’s now a week and your thoughts can’t help but go in the wrong direction, but we’re not giving up hope.”
Dozens of residents have joined the search for Mrs Stevenson, known as Bett to her friends, since last Tuesday. She was reportedly seen heading north along Atholl Road, near Dysart Brae, shortly before 2pm that day.
Officers believe she may have continued on in a northerly direction and are keen to speak to motorists driving on the A9 at Faskally, or on the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie road, at around 2.30pm.
Mrs Kerr said her mother had been planning to go shopping that afternoon, but had perhaps forgotten and decided to go for a walk instead.
She revealed she had last seen her mother the day before she went missing when they met for lunch in Pitlochry.
She thanked people for their efforts so far, saying: ”There’s a great will to find mum. She’s well-known in the area as she’s lived there for many years.
”As well as the police searches I’ve had various contacts with people, saying: ‘We were out for a walk with the dog and just thought we’d go round here because mum was sometimes seen walking in this area’.”
Mrs Stevenson is 5ft 4in, slim, with blue eyes and red, jaw-length hair. She was last seen wearing a lightweight beige jacket, grey trousers and black boots.
She suffers from dementia and sight problems and could be in a confused state.