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Missing woman could be wild camping, police say

Ellen Knight
BBC Radio Shropshire
West Mercia Police A slightly grainy CCTV image of Christine Fish walking through train station barriers, with what looks like a ticket in her hand. She is wearing a black outdoor coat, a black hat, and has shoulder-length grey hair and glasses. West Mercia Police
New CCTV images show Christine Fish using the barriers at Shrewsbury train station on Friday 28 February

A woman who has been missing for two weeks could be camping in a "remote" part of the countryside, police have said.

Christine Fish, 55, was first reported missing from her home in Market Drayton on the evening of 26 February.

She was last seen on CCTV in Shrewsbury on 28 February, when she bought camping equipment from an outdoor activity shop.

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Richard Davies said: "Dog walkers, farmers, anyone who comes across someone, we're just appealing for them to report it as soon as possible."

Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, he said West Mercia Police were working alongside neighbouring forces and growing "increasingly concerned" for the missing woman's welfare.

Ms Fish has been described by police as a 5ft 7in white female, of slim build, with grey shoulder-length hair.

She wears glasses and was last seen wearing a rainbow scarf, Lilo and Stitch jumper, purple coat, black jeans and trainers.

West Mercia Police A slightly grainy CCTV image of Christine Fish walking along a paved street. There's a large bin to her right. She is wearing a black outdoor coat, a black hat, and has shoulder-length grey hair and glasses. West Mercia Police
Christine Fish was seen on CCTV leaving the Blacks outdoor shop in Shrewsbury at 09:15 on 28 February

CCTV images released by the force showed her leaving Blacks in Shrewsbury at around 09:15 GMT on 28 February.

"We're really trying to focus on where Christine's gone from there," Mr Davies said, adding his team was "very, very confident" there was no third party involved.

The detective revealed Ms Fish bought camping equipment, including a one-person tent, and a jacket.

"There's a real possibility that Christine could be camping - we know that she can walk long distances," he said.

He added she could be "somewhere very, very remote."

"We know, factually, that she has purchased this camping equipment, so there's the likelihood that she could be somewhere rural," he added.

West Mercia Police A very grainy CCTV image of Ms Fish, pictured side-on, walking into WH Smith in Shrewsbury. She is wearing a black coat, a black hat, and carrying what looks like a rucksack. West Mercia Police
The 55-year-old was seen on CCTV entering WH Smith on Castle Street in Shrewsbury

The 55-year-old was also seen on CCTV the same day at 09:40, entering WH Smith on Castle Street.

A new image released by the force shows her passing through the town's train station barriers shortly after.

Officers also believe her phone was used in Sutton Hill, Telford, at around 16:00 on 3 March.

Det Insp Davies looking into the camera; he is wearing a purple collared shirt with a purple, pink, and black striped tie. He has got a blue lanyard around his neck with West Mercia Police on it in white writing. Behind him are two marked police cars, and beyond that is Shrewsbury Police Station - a square, brutalist grey brick building with large windows. The sky is blue with a few clouds.
Det Insp Richard Davies is urging people in rural areas to look out for Ms Fish
Handout Ms Fish pictured in a handout photo smiling and looking into the camera. She has got grey shoulder-length straight hair and a fringe, and is wearing glasses. She is sat in a large armchair with a pink and orange print, with a striped wall visible beyond it. Handout
Mr Davies said there was an "urgency" to the search as officers became "increasingly concerned"

With no further confirmed sightings of the 55-year-old, Mr Davies said there was an "urgency" to the search and appealed for the public's help.

"We're coming up to a two-week period now where we've had no usage of the phone, we've got no other financial transactions to monitor," he said.

"Be alert in rural places, if you see someone camping [who matches] that description, please report it as soon as possible."

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