Lake search in missing woman case

Neil Whitehead appeals for the safe return of his daughter Millie and wife Jude

Police searching for a missing florist and her disabled daughter are to search a lake immediately behind their home.

Jude Richmond, 41, and Millie Whitehead-Richmond, nine, were last seen at their home in South Cerney, Gloucestershire on Sunday evening.

Divers from Avon and Somerset Police will search the lake but the force stressed officers were still hopeful the pair would be found safe and well.

Gloucestershire Police are expected to release CCTV footage of the two today.

A police spokesperson said the CCTV footage may "jog people's memories", but stressed they were still treating the situation as a "missing person" case.

Jude Richmond was said to have been under pressure recently

Mrs Richmond runs Camelia Florist in The Laurels, South Cerney, and has provided flowers for the Queen Mother, the movie Bridget Jones's Diary and the band Pink Floyd.

Police said she had been under a lot of pressure recently and described her as "very vulnerable".

Officers were alerted to the pair's disappearance by the family cleaner at 1000 GMT on Monday.

The initial search concentrated on the house and immediate area and involved officers, a police dog and helicopter.

Appeals for information have led to about 25 calls from people offering information and help with the search.

What we really want is for Jude to call us and tell us that her and Millie are safe and well Insp Owen Hughes

Insp Owen Hughes said: "It is obvious from the calls we have had coming in from people who know Jude and Millie that there are many people concerned about them and wanting them to be found safe and well.

"Our concern is growing as time passes by, but what we really want is for Jude to call us and tell us that her and Millie are safe and well."

A specialist missing persons advisor was speaking to officers to assess how the search should continue.

The Camelia Florist website describes Millie as the "business's mascot".

An entry about her said: "She is really mad about three things in life - dogs, ponies and flowers."

Mrs Richmond is about 5ft 11 ins tall, of very slim build, with blonde, shoulder length hair.

She was wearing a grey, long sleeved T-shirt, jeans and boots when last seen.

Millie is described as being thin and pale, with shoulder length blonde hair.

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