Search for Joyce Wells

That's the question asked by the daughters of Joyce Wells who has been missing from her home in Pebsham Lane since the weekend.

Carole Crathern and Nicky Gumbrell, who both live in Bexhill, are desperate for information about their mother and appeal for anyone who might have seen her to contact the police.

They reported her missing on Saturday night. Since then an extensive search has been conducted locally - but still no news of a sighting.

Meanwhile Carole and Nicky are remembering their last contact with Joyce and wonder what happened.

They describe her as a "fit and active" person who was "lovely, warm and caring," and deeply involved in family life.

Carole commented: "She would do anything for anyone. She is helpful...she would not want to upset anyone."

Joyce spent much of her life in Bexhill Road in St Leonards with husband Bill who worked with Hastings police for more than 30 years - he passed away in April 2002. They had two children and five grandchildren.

Earlier in the week Carole had spoken to Joyce on the telephone and arranged for her to babysit on Saturday evening, while Nicky called late Friday afternoon and invited her over for a meal on Sunday.

Joyce had been to the hairdresser on Friday morning, where she was said to be happy and well, and spent that afternoon socialising with a neighbour.

On Saturday Carole rang at 4pm to sort out the time for Joyce to babysit but there was no reply. She was "not unduly concerned" but after further failed attempts to reach her mother, called Nicky to ask if she knew where Joyce might be.

Carole then went with her son to the house to check, hoping her mother had been asleep, but found it empty, dark and with all the curtains open. Her mother's handbag was hanging by the door and her car still parked outside.

Calls were made to friends and relatives, and Nicky checked with the Conquest Hospital before they made the decision to contact Sussex Police.

Officers have searched neighbouring gardens, outbuildings and woodland, and neighbours were alerted amid growing concern because of cold, wintry weather conditions.

Carole commented: "No-one has seen her. That is what we cannot understand in such a busy built-up area like Pebsham...there are absolutely no sightings.

"The last person to see her was her neighbour over the road and the last person to speak to her was Nicky on Friday at quarter to six."

"This is completely out of character. She just would not want to cause all this upset and concern and to let people down."

Nicky said: "I am just desperately worried. You go through every scenario thinking just all things, hoping that she is going to turn up. I can't sleep... and obviously the kids are really upset and devastated by it all."

Carole added: "The police have been fantastic - they could not have done anything more. They have been brilliant. We went home on Saturday night and turned up at Mum's on Sunday morning at 9am and there were already 20 officers out there."

Inspector James Scott said: "We have a number of volunteers helping us search for Mrs Wells and this search has been extended to farmland near her home. Her disappearance is a mystery and we are becoming increasingly concerned. We would appeal to anyone who knows her or thinks they may have seen her to contact us. Also I would urge local peopel to search their property as we are concerned she is outside in this terribly cold weather. Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 60 70 999."