Gaynor Lord missing: Everything we know about disappearance so far | UK News

The search for missing mum-of-three Gaynor Lord has now entered its sixth day.

She was last seen on Friday afternoon after leaving work more than an hour early in Norwich city centre.

Hours later, the 55-year-old’s belongings, including clothing, two rings, a mobile phone and glasses, were found scattered in Wensum Park – around 1.5 miles away.

For the latest updates, visit Metro.co.uk‘s dedicated Gaynor Lord live blog.

Specialist divers have joined the search after police said it was ‘likely’ she entered the water. Norfolk Constabulary has also said it is ‘linking in’ with the force which worked on the Nicola Bulley case.

Here is everything we know about her disappearance so far.

Leaves work early

Gaynor was due to complete a shift for spirits distiller Bullard Gin at 4pm, but mystery surrounds her decision to leave more than an hour early.

A major police search was launched at 8pm on Friday when her rings, mobile phone and glasses were found at ‘various locations’ in Wensum Park in the city.

Detectives have been trying to piece together her last movements in the five-hour gap between when she was last seen and her belongings being found.

Norwich policing commander, Superintendent Wes Hornigold, said: ‘We hope this will help to jog the memory of anyone who may have seen her in the city that afternoon or who may have footage of her journey.

‘We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who may have seen Gaynor in the cathedral grounds, which she enters at 2.50pm and leaves at 3.23pm.

‘It’s not clear where she goes inside the cathedral grounds during this time so we’re keen to hear from anyone who may have seen her there.

‘We are continuing our extensive searches but would appeal to the public to come forward with any information which may help to find Gaynor.

‘In the footage you can clearly see what she was wearing when she went missing. This is a particularly stressful time for her family and specialist officers continue to provide support.’

Belongings found scattered in park

Gaynor is described as white, 5ft 6in, and has a blonde shoulder-length bob.

Several hours later, Gaynor’s clothing, mobile phone, glasses and jewellery – including two rings, were discovered at various locations in Wensum Park.

Her coat was found in the water.

Police managed to identify the items as hers using an ID in her bag, and when they visited her home they discovered she had not returned.

They said her disappearance is ‘out of character’ and Wensum Park has been closed since Saturday.

Footage shows specialist officers searching the water and sonar equipment has reportedly been deployed, but turned up nothing.

On Tuesday, four days into the search, Mr Hornigold told ITV: ‘Gaynor left work early and didn’t take her normal route home.

‘We haven’t been able to establish why she left early and her disappearance is out of character so we are naturally concerned for her welfare.

‘There’s no evidence that Gaynor has come to harm and while we have a number of inquiries ongoing, given where her clothing was found and other items, there is a real possibility she has entered the water.’

Last known sighting

She was last seen ‘doing a yoga pose’ in the park, according to one witness who says she saw a woman matching Gaynor’s description placing her coat on the ground and stretching.

Rosie Richards told ITV’s Good Morning Britain the missing mum appeared ‘quite calm’, but added something ‘seemed a bit off’.

‘She was sort of putting her coat down on the floor and sort of performing a yoga pose. It just seemed a bit off at this time because obviously it was starting to get dark,’ she said.

‘It’s really upsetting. I’m thinking of her friends and family because she is a similar age to my mum and that would be awful to be going through what they are going through now.’

What has her family said?

Gaynor’s daughter Alexandra took to social media on Tuesday to make a heartfelt plea for her mum to return safe and well.

Sharing Norfolk Constabulary’s latest update on Facebook, she wrote: ‘Please share, if anyone knows anything please do contact the police!

‘We want her home!’

Earlier, she shared another update, pleading with the public: ‘Anything you may know small or large please contact the police!’

Gaynor’s step-brother Allan Weston said today that her disappearance is ‘proper out of character’.

He told The Sun: ‘We just hope she comes back safe. If anyone does know anything please come forward.

‘It’s been a few days now since she went missing so we are very worried. She has never gone missing or anything like that before.’

Her husband Clive, 63, a financial adviser, has not yet commented on the case.

Police ‘learning lessons’ from Nicola Bulley case

Norfolk Constabulary has revealed it is attempting to learn lessons from Lancashire Constabulary, which handled the search for missing mother Ms Bulley, who disappeared after dropping her two daughters at school in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, earlier this year.

Her body was found in the River Wyre on February 19, about a mile from where she vanished while walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre on January 27.

The force was criticised over its handling of the investigation and the disclosure of Nicola’s personal information.

An inquest concluded her death was accidental, that she fell into the river on the day she disappeared and died almost immediately in the cold water.

Norwich policing commander Superintendent Wes Hornigold told LBC: ‘We will absolutely – and have done – be linking in with Lancashire Constabulary to understand any of the lessons learned from that inquiry.

‘We’ve already had meetings with the National Crime Agency in terms of understanding any specific skills and knowledge in respect to water searching.’

He added: ‘We’re cognisant of the recent College of Policing report into the Lancashire inquiry, so we’re leaving no stone unturned and making sure we’re doing everything within our power to find Gaynor as quickly as possible.’

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