Underwater search team involved in hunt for missing Clitheroe woman Zara Howard
She has been missing nearly one week.
Police have confirmed they are now using an underwater search team in their hunt to find a missing 41-year-old woman from Clitheroe.
Zara Howard went missing from Clitheroe and was last seen in the Kemple View area at around 4:30pm on Thursday, October 22.
She is described as 5ft 7in, with ginger hair, and has links to Clitheroe and Colne.
Since being reported as missing in the late afternoon of October 23, extensive enquiries, including CCTV enquiries, have been ongoing.
A police spokesperson said: “Many of you will be aware that we’ve been carrying out enquiries over the last week to find missing Zara Howard and a lot of you have been asking for updates and will have seen police activity in the area.
“So, we wanted to update you on what we have been doing and will continue to be doing this week.
“As a result of this, Zara was seen on CCTV in the Appleby Square area, just off Henthorn Road in Clitheroe, at around 4:55pm on 22nd October.
“We’ve got people out and about knocking on doors and carrying out enquiries in the area.
“As part of that activity, our underwater search team will also be carrying out some searches in the Siddow Bridge area.
“We are very much keeping an open mind with regards to where Zara may be, but are carrying out these enquiries to locate her.
“She was last seen travelling in the direction of the recycling centre.”
Zara is believed to be wearing a black jumper with symbols down each arm and black trousers with a stripe down the side.
Her jumper is thought to have a white good, and she is thought to be wearing a cap underneath it and carrying a grey rucksack.
The police spokesperson added: “We know that the Kemple View area is close-knit community, and many of you will now know that Zara is missing by now.
“We also understand that this level of police activity is a rarity in the area, so it was important to us to give you some context.
“We really appreciate the support we have received from the community so far and are continuing to ask for anyone with information to get in touch.
“We are asking those in the surrounding areas to please keep an eye out for Zara. If you have information that could assist us, or if you have CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage that may show Zara after she went missing to please get in touch with us.”
You can approach officers as they are out and about, or call 101 quoting log 1002 of 23rd October. For immediate sightings, please call 999.