POLICE officers searching for missing Helmsley woman, Barbara Colling, are using a dog specifically trained to track a person’s scent.

Barbara, 68, has not been seen since Monday morning, in the area of the B1257 at Abbotts Hag, near the Rievaulx turn off.

The search and rescue dog will start working from Barbara's home this morning (Wednesday). The dog is specifically trained to identify a person’s scent and then to track it for as long as possible.

Despite extensive searches of the Helmsley to Broughton area by specially-trained police officers, search and rescue teams and an air support unit, they have not managed to locate Barbara.

There have been a number of possible sightings of Barbara in the Laskill area reported to the police since she went missing. The last of these sighting was near Newgate woods, at 11.15am yesterday (Tuesday). Officers carried out a thorough search of the woods but were unable to locate her.

Barbara is described as white, 5ft 2in tall, of medium build and medium length blonde hair. When she was last seen, she wearing a navy blue jacket, blue trousers, a black woollen hat with ear flaps and black boots and is thought to have been carrying a black rucksack.

Inspector Richard Mallinson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I would like to thank all those members of the public who have already reported potential sightings of Barbara and urge anyone else who may have seen her in the area to contact the police immediately.

“I am particularly asking farmers and people who work in the local area to keep checking their outbuildings and sheds in case Barbara has taken shelter in them.”

Anyone who can help in the search for Barbara Colling is urged to phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, immediately, select option 1 and pass the information to the Force Control Room.