No trace of a Kirkcudbright woman missing for 12 days has been found despite intensive searches.
Joyce Kirkland was reported missing from her Buchanan Street home early on Saturday March 13.
A massive multi-agency search operation initially concentrated on tidal reaches of the River Dee and the nearby Solway coast.
Coastguard personnel have since extended the search area for Mrs Kirkland.
Senior coastal operations officer Stewart Bryden told the News: “We had teams out over the weekend.
“Our search area included out past Ross Island, Balcary Bay and Brighouse Bay.
“We also searched east towards the range.”
Galloway Mountain Rescue Team was also pulled in by Police Scotland to help look for 72-year-old Mrs Kirkland.
Team leader Stewart Gibson told the News: “We were tasked by the Police search adviser to search numerous locations close to Kirkcudbright.
“We deployed 14 team members over three days and used every available asset the team had including the water rescue technicians, a Search And Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) handler and dog, and one of our small, unmanned aerial vehicles which helped search areas which otherwise would have been inaccessible.”
Mr Gibson added: “The team will continue to support the police in this on-going search.”
Mrs Kirkland was last seen around 10pm on Friday, March 12, at her home in Rankine Place off Buchanan Street.
She was reported missing at 4.50am the following day, triggering the huge search effort.
Police dive teams, the Coastguard, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team and local volunteers were involved.
Nith Inshore Rescue launched a rigid inflatable boat to search the harbour area and nearby shallows.
Chief Inspector Bryan Lee, Local Area Commander, told the News yesterday: “Joyce Kirkland remains a missing person at this time and our enquiries remain ongoing.
Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101.
