Family anguish for missing mother

Mrs Johnson was last seen on 29 January

A Tyneside family have spoken of their agonising wait for news of their 82-year-old mother, who has been missing for a week.

Beatrice Johnson was last spoken to at her home in Gosforth, Newcastle, on the evening of 29 January.

Police have made extensive inquiries in the North East and in the Birmingham area, where Mrs Johnson used to live.

Mrs Johnson's daughter, Pauline Handy, said she feared for the safety of the recently-widowed Alzheimer's sufferer.

Mrs Handy said: "My mother loves being with people and often talks and sings to strangers - singing little ditties to them. She cannot help herself.

Marine search

"She is known by many as "Eddy" following her time in the army where there were two people called Edwards, her maiden name, and the nickname has remained with her.

"Someone must have seen her, she cannot just simply have disappeared."

So far the Northumbria Police helicopter, specialist search teams, search and rescue and marine section have been deployed without success.

Det Insp Peter Reeve said: "It is a week since Mrs Johnson was seen and we are extremely concerned for her welfare.

"We have a dedicated team of officers working on this inquiry and are concerned because of Mrs Johnson's age, her health and the cold weather."