POLICE are looking for a woman who has been missing since last weekend.

Kathleen Wilkinson, 56, normally lives in Copper Chare, in Morpeth, Northumberland, but last Saturday was staying with her brother at his house in Lintz Lane, Burnopfield.

She left the house on Saturday afternoon saying she was going to meet the younger of her two sons, Tom, in Morpeth.

Mrs Wilkinson, who was divorced from her husband 14 years ago, said she had made the arrangement by text message - but her son never received any such text and she has not been seen since that Saturday.

A police spokesman said: "Mrs Wilkinson has had an offer accepted recently for a house in Olympia Gardens, in Morpeth, and her family say that for her to go away and not tell anyone of her intentions is extremely unusual and out of character.

"She has been depressed, which may partly have stemmed from a decision to sell the house in Morpeth."

Mrs Wilkinson has been known to visit monasteries and meditation centres in the North-East, as well as Holy Island and Druridge Bay.

Officers from Northumbria Police have been making inquiries in these areas, but so far all efforts to find her have drawn a blank.

Mrs Wilkinson is of average height and build with short brown hair. When last seen, she was wearing a red waterproof walking jacket and pale blue and white trainers.

Her car is also missing. It is a red Vauxhall Corsa, registration W343 OBR, and police are anxious to hear from anyone who may have seen this vehicle on the roads in the last few days.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0845 606 0365.