Sixth day searching River Tees for missing Gloria Ann Clarke

Gloria, 80, disappeared on New Year's Day and emergency services have been looking for her ever since.

On Tuesday (January 2) police said that they had seen CCTV footage of a woman matching Gloria's description entering the river.

Today, January 5, divers have been in the water searching as sniffer dogs patrol the bank.

Pictures of the ongoing search:

The operation has been working around the clock since New Year's Day.

Cleveland Police re-issued a plea for informal search parties to stand down due to hazardous conditions around the river.

A force spokesperson said: “We echo our previous message that the river is particularly deep at the moment and extremely fast flowing due to recent weather. We would ask informal search parties to stand down due to these hazardous conditions around the riverbank.

“Diving teams from Northumbria Police are assisting with the search of specific areas of the river today and tomorrow, whilst officers search the riverbank on foot and with drones.”

Gloria’s family are being supported by specialist teams while the search continues.

The 80-year-old was last seen leaving Meadowfield Drive in Eaglescliffe at about 5.45am on Sunday (December 31).

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Emergency crews first arrived at the River Tees in Yarm that afternoon.

A cordon was initially put up along True Lovers Walk at the water’s edge while the police helicopter was spotted over the town.

Water rescue specialists and police with torches worked through darkness and into the evening before calling off the search overnight. Enquiries have been continuing since.