Searches at home of missing woman

Gillian Merrick pictured with her husband Nick

Searches are taking place at the Northamptonshire home of a woman who has been missing since New Year's Day.

Ground and water searches have taken place in the area near the Oundle home, of Gillian Merrick, 45, but no trace has been found of her.

Police are searching the family home to look for any evidence of where she may be and why she has gone missing.

Searches may continue for a number of days and will also include the family's cars, police said.

Det Ch Insp Andy Cox said: "We are continuing to look for Gillian and we are searching her home so that we can be sure that we have not overlooked anything that could help us find her, which is what both we and Gillian's family want more than anything.

"This is the logical next step in our investigation and we have the family's full co-operation for these searches and will continue to support them with specially-trained family liaison officers.

"This will be a very difficult time for the Merrick family and we are being as sensitive to them during this stage of the investigation as we possibly can."