The search for Lucy Charles is entering its third week

The belongings of a 39-year-old woman who vanished shortly before Christmas have been found by a river.

Lucy Charles was last seen on December 22 walking past a pub in Bangor-on-Dee, near Wrexham, north Wales.

It’s thought she may have then walked along the River Dee, which police say is ‘in a very dangerous state of flooding’.

‘Extensive’ land and air searches of the local area have been carried out, while police divers have scoured an 18-mile stretch of the river from Bangor-on-Dee to Chester.

With the search now entering its third week, detectives are ramping up efforts to identify people who might have seen Lucy or caught her movements on personal CCTV cameras or dashcams.

She was wearing distinctive clothing: a hi-vis vest over a navy padded coat, khaki-coloured leggings and black boots.

Police have not said which of Lucy’s items were found by the river, only that they were found on the bank near a Severn Trent water treatment plant.

Lucy was last seen by a CCTV camera as she walked past the Royal Oak pub

The pub is on a road which leads out of the town toward the River Dee

The 39-year-old’s family was said to have had a ‘particularly difficult time’ waiting for updates on the search over the festive period.

The last known sighting was on a CCTV camera which filmed her at 5.34pm on December 22 passing the Royal Oak pub, which is on the outskirts of the town and lies a short walk away from the river.

Chief Inspector Stephen Roberts of North Wales Police said: ‘Since this time extensive searches have taken place which have led us to find personal items of Lucy’s on the bank of the River Dee close to the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works. 

‘During the last two weeks we have carried out extensive enquiries and searches of both the river Dee and the local area.

Lucy was wearing distinctive clothing including a hi-vis vest

‘I would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the searches including the local mountain rescue team, the fire service, the police helicopter and the police under water search team who have carried out extensive water based searches in difficult weather and water conditions, from Bangor on Dee to Chester.

‘Their searches continue to take place.’

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The search for Lucy Charles, who went missing just before Christmas, is entering its third week.