Fears for safety of missing woman

Amanda Edwards failed to keep an appointment

Police have stepped up their search for a 21-year-old woman missing since she gave her boyfriend a lift to his home near Calne in Wiltshire four days ago.

Fifty officers are working on the disappearance of Amanda Edwards, a nursery assistant from Purton, Swindon.

Her car was later found 20 miles away at a supermarket. She has not used her mobile phone or bank account.

Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett said she had been unwell with depression but this might not be linked.

CCTV of her in a Purton shop earlier on Thursday

"At this time we cannot explain Amanda's disappearance and we will do everything we possibly can.

"We will talk to anyone who believes that they can help us and we will consider every possible scenario and discount nothing.

"There are circumstances in her life around her illness but there's no immediate evidence to say that this disappearance is the result of her illness.

"She comes from a stable background, she has a steady boyfriend. We are taking this very seriously."

Miss Edwards, who lives with her parents and has an elder sister, has been going out with her 19-year-old boyfriend for a year.

A police officer looks for clues at the Asda car park

She dropped him off at his home in Bremhill, near Calne on Thursday at 1000 BST.

She failed to keep an afternoon appointment to meet a friend in Swindon on the day she vanished.

Police have set up a major incident room at Westlea, Swindon and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

A helicopter has been used in the search and detectives have enlisted the help of volunteers from Wiltshire Search and Rescue.

Miss Edwards' car, a racing green Rover Metro, has been removed from the Asda superstore "C" car park in West Swindon for examination by forensic officers.

CCTV footage from the supermarket area is also being checked.

Miss Edwards is described as of mixed race, of slim build, 5ft 6ins tall with short black bobbed hair.

She was wearing a dark blue track suit top with a red stripes on the sleeves and green trousers with a white "A" on the side.

She was wearing trainers and a pink beanie hat and was carrying a pink and grey handbag.