Officers call in specialist tracker dog as hunt for woman continues

The 68-year-old had not been seen since Monday morning. She was last seen walking from the market town of Helmsley towards Stokesley, in the area of the B1257 at Abbotts Hag, near the Rievaulx turn off.

Yesterday morning the search-and-rescue dog brought in to assist the search started working from Mrs Colling’s home in Helmsley.

Despite extensive searches of the Helmsley to Broughton area by specially-trained police officers, search and rescue teams and an air support unit, Mrs Colling was still missing yesterday afternoon.

Officers said they were becoming increasingly concerned about Mrs Colling as she has serious health problems.

Several possible sightings had come from the Laskill area.

The last was near Newgate woods, at 11.15am on Tuesday. Officers thoroughly searched the woods but were could not find her.

Inspector Richard Mallinson of North Yorkshire Police urged anyone with information to come forward: “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.”

Mrs Colling is described as white, 5ft 2in with medium length blonde hair. She was wearing a navy blue jacket, a black woollen hat with ear flaps and black boots.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101.