Laura Gorrie boards a bus to Glasgow
POLICE are set to attend a Westlife show in Blackpool in the hope of finding a “massive fan” of the boy band who went missing from her Edinburgh home nearly four weeks ago.
Laura Gorrie is believed to have travelled to the seaside holiday resort to indulge her passion for amusement arcades, which she often visits in the Capital.
Officers searching for the 30-year-old now plan to attend a live satellite screening of the Irish group’s last-ever gig in Dublin at the Blackpool Odeon next Saturday as part of the search.
A team of four Lothian and Borders Police officers have been sent to Blackpool to comb amusement arcades, bed and breakfasts and beaches to try to find Ms Gorrie, who is deemed a “high-risk” missing person. Ms Gorrie, who has learning difficulties, was seen boarding a bus from Edinburgh to Glasgow on May 22, and was last seen getting on a train to Blackpool later the same day.
Detective Constable David Robertson is among the officers who have travelled to the English town. He said: “We’ve been doing a poster drop of bed and breakfast and arcades to raise awareness. Laura is known to frequent arcades in the Bridges area of Edinburgh near where she lives at the High Street. In coming to Blackpool, we believe that is where she might go.
“There are hundreds of arcades and more than 3000 bed and breakfasts in Blackpool, which is obviously a huge number to cover. Lancashire Police have been very helpful and put out appeals through their Hotel Watch scheme.
“We’ve been checking with churches which provide overnight accommodation and drop-in centres which feed the homeless. Laura is also known to frequent Greggs the bakers and similar food places.
“Blackpool is obviously very busy with holidaymakers at this time of year. Local police have been leafleting the Pleasure Beach, the piers, train and bus stations and taxi ranks with her photograph.”
DC Robertson added: “Laura is a massive Westlife fan who went with her mum to a recent concert in Newcastle. When she went missing, her family believed she may have intended to visit places where the group were playing on their current farewell tour. We’ve liaised with forces where the concerts were being held but haven’t had any sightings.
“The Westlife concert is being screened live to the Blackpool Odeon. We’ll have officers in attendance that night to see if Laura goes.”
Ms Gorrie is described as being 5ft 8in, heavy build, with long brown hair, and was wearing glasses.
When she was last seen she was wearing blue jeans, a red jacket and black trainers with white soles, and was carrying a Burberry-style bag.
DC Robertson added: “Our team will be here for a couple more days but if we have positive lines of inquiry then we’ll stay and follow those up. Laura doesn’t have any access to cash and we’re unsure how much money she took with her.
“We don’t know how she is funding herself, so that is another cause for concern.
“There is nothing to suggest that she has gone missing under any duress. Laura does require medication for her diabetes and has never gone missing for this long before.”
Credit Source : Scotsman
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