Mum’s last moments before she went missing could hold vital clues
Divers were called in to scour the River Wensum after her coat, clothes, jewellery, glasses and phone were found close to the riverbank.
Police have released CCTV of a missing mum’s last known movements.
Gaynor Lord, 55, had last been seen heading towards Norwich Cathedral at around 2.45pm on Friday, after leaving her job at nearby Jarrold department store – but she never made it home.
New CCTV footage of Gaynor leaving her job, Bullards Gin in the department store, shows her with a large smile on her face as she leaves at 2.45pm, more than an hour before her shift was due to end at 4pm.
In another clip filmed in the city centre, she was seen running along the path with her coat in her hand, before rushing to cross a road at a pedestrian crossing without waiting for the traffic lights to turn red, stopping in the middle of the road to avoid a passing car.
She was last seen on city centre CCTV at 4.01pm.
Divers were called in to scour the River Wensum after her coat, clothes, jewellery, glasses and phone were found close to the riverbank.
A new witness has also come forward with a possible sighting of the missing mother-of-three.
Rosie Richards, who lives locally, told the BBC she saw a a woman matching Gaynor’s description in Wensum Park, which the River Wensum runs through, at around 4pm on Friday, giving another clue to her whereabouts.
She said: ‘It’s really upsetting… I’m just thinking of her friends and family, because she is a sort of similar age to my mum and that would be awful to be going through what they are going through right now. It’s really upsetting.’
Police say ‘the most likely scenario’ is that Gaynor entered the water, and the river has been searched with help from the fire brigade and coastguard.
Wensum Park has been closed off to the public since Saturday while officers keep searching, including using drones.
Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: ‘Gaynor left work early and didn’t take her normal route home. We haven’t been able to establish why she left early and her disappearance is out of character, so we are naturally concerned for her welfare.
‘There’s no evidence that Gaynor has come to harm and, while we have a number of enquiries ongoing, given where her clothing was found and other items, there is a real possibility she has entered the water.
‘We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who may have seen Gaynor in the cathedral grounds which she enters at 2.50pm and leaves at 3.23pm.
‘It’s not clear where she goes inside the cathedral grounds during this time so we’re keen to hear from anyone who may have seen her there.
A timeline of Gaynor's movements before going missing on Friday, December 8
2.44pm – Gaynor is working at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement at Jarrold department store
2.45-2.46pm – She leaves the store via the loading bay on Bedford Street
2.47pm – Walks onto London Street past the Cosy Club
2.48pm – Gaynor makes her way onto Queens Street and walks toward the Cathedral
3.22pm – Gaynor is seen on The Close at the cathedral entrance – shortly before exiting through the archway she puts her coat on
3.23pm – She is seen to walk away from the cathedral on Queens Street
3.49pm – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George’s Street
3.53pm – Walks along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street
4.01pm – Gaynor walks up St Augustines Street – her final movements captured in CCTV before going missing
‘We are continuing our extensive searches but would appeal to the public to come forward with any information which may help to find Gaynor.
‘In the footage you can clearly see what she was wearing when she went missing.
‘This is clearly a distressing time for her family. We have specialist officers supporting them and continue to keep them updated on our ongoing work.’
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