Lake District search for missing walker stepped up

It has emerged that only a couple of days before she went missing Gwenda Merriott had been discovered in an uncon-scious state on the summit of Bowfell, near Great Langdale.

Beside her was a significant number of opiate-based painkillers and a part consumed bottle of alcohol.

The treacherous weather meant that an emergency air ambulance was unable to land and volunteers from the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue team stretchered her off the mountain and took her to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for treatment.

Two days later, on Tuesday November 30, the 60-year-old went missing again after last being seen by family members in the Rydal Road car park at Ambleside.

Ms Merriott, from Wilton, near Marlborough, Wiltshire, was wearing a blue and black top, brown hiking boots and carrying a blue rucksack. She is described as a keen fell walker, 5ft 6in tall, of slight build and with short, spiky, salt and pepper hair.

The Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue team conducted another search mission on Saturday along with teams from Bowland, Pennine and Duddon plus search and rescue dogs.

Posters have also been put up in hotels and B&Bs around Ambleside appealing for infor-mation about the whereabouts of Ms Merriott A Cumbria police spokesperson said: “There has been a good response from the local community. We have issued lots of posters that have been put up around the area. There has been a couple of reported sightings, one in Bath and a few around here. The most positive was near Grasmere on Great Rigg Fell. The mountain rescue service went out on December 4 but did not find anyone which might be to do with the weather conditions.

“If anyone sees anyone matching the description then please come forward and let us know.”

Anyone who has seen a woman matching Gwenda Merriot's description should contact officers on 0845 3300247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.