By Cara Sulieman
MOUNTED police patrols today joined the hunt for a missing Scots mum as fears grew for her safety after she disappeared from her home early on Monday morning.
Elizabeth McVey, from Musselburgh, has not been seen since she vanished from her home in the East Lothian town’s Eskview Road.
The last time anyone from her family saw the keen churchgoer was around 12.30am at her home before she was reported missing by relatives seven hours later.
She is registered as living at the house with husband Michael, and grown up children, son Mark and daughter Lynsey.
Harbour conversation
The 50-year-old – known as Libby – had been wearing sky blue pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt when she was last seen, but her husband told police he was unsure if anything was missing from her wardrobe.
Police said today that they were particularly keen to follow up claims that she may have been talking to two people near the town’s harbour area at around 6am on the day before she went missing.
Last night the man leading the investigation, Inspector Gordon McCreadie, appealed for them to come forward.
He said: “We are particular keen to speak to two people who Libby may have spoken to in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“She went for a walk on Sunday and said to her husband afterwards that she had been speaking to two people in the harbour people.
“We would like to know what the nature of that meeting was and the conversation that took place almost exactly 24 hours before she went missing.”
“Really worried”
The modest stone built one up one down villa is situated at the end of a busy road and close to a river, and a relatively short walk from the harbour area situated a few streets away.
Lothian and Borders Police said they now drafted in specialist teams including mounted officers to continue the search of the surrounding areas and urged locals to keep a lookout.
Inspector McCreadie said that Mrs McVey’s family were “really worried” about her and just wanted to know she was okay.
He said: “Libby’s family are worried about her and are asking her to get in touch either with them or with the police to let us know she is alright.
“This is a lovely family who are understandably very upset about her disappearance.
“Libby was involved with an amateur dramatic group and heavily involved with the church and she works in Haddington for the local council.
“I met one of her friends in the harbour when we were out looking and they said they were shocked, that it was really out of character for her to do this.
“Everybody’s reaction has been one of shock – she is such a vivacious bubbly person and in the middle of the night she disappears.
“She was planning a holiday in the next few weeks and there were a lot of positive things happening.
“It doesn’t make sense to the family.”
“Active search”
Inspector McCreadie went on to say that Mrs McVey often went for a walk in the early hours of the morning and that she was a very active person.
He said: “We have been focusing on the walking routes and beach – obvious areas where someone might enjoy walking. She does enjoy walking and cycling on a regular basis.
“We have had the helicopter out from Strathclyde Police and the coastguard checking coastal roads and paths to see if she was walking along any of them.
“We are continuing an active search with the community, putting posters up and speaking to residents to make sure it stays in their mind and they keep looking for Libby.”
He said Mrs McVey was described 4ft 11ins tall with collar-length fair hair and a fresh complexion, of average build, and possibly wearing glasses.
“Anxious”
A Lothian and Borders police spokesman said earlier: “We are very concerned for Elizabeth’s safety.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have seen her to get in touch as a matter of urgency.
“We are also interested in speaking to two people who may have seen Elizabeth in the vicinity of Musselburgh harbour at around 6am on Sunday, as they may have information that can assist our inquiries.
“Anyone else who has any information regarding her whereabouts should contact police immediately.
“We are anxious for any information that can help trace Elizabeth.”
Anyone with any information was asked to Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131 urgently.
