Nellie Herriott
Update Friday, 18th May
Despite extensive searches and numerous sightings being followed up by police, Nellie has still not been located.
A spokesperson said:
"It has now been almost a month since Nellie was reported missing and officers have worked tirelessly to try and find her.
We have been overwhelmed by support from the public and the media who have gone to great lengths to help us with our search,
but the fact remains that the last confirmed sighting of Nellie was now several weeks ago."
"We don't want to speculate on what may have happened and it may be the case that she's no longer in the area.
However, our enquiries continue and we would encourage anyone who thinks they may have seen her to contact police
immediately and, if possible, stay with her."
Nellie is described as white, of thin/fragile build, 4' 9", with straight white collar-length hair.
She was wearing a knee-length blue/mauve coloured coat, black woolly hat, cream trousers and white shoes.
Her glasses are missing a lens.
Anyone who thinks they have information is asked to call police on 101 quoting serial 1448 of 25 April.
Update 4th May
Sussex Police would like to hear from anyone who knew Nellie Herriott during her many years living in Brighton. Detective Inspector Mark Cullimore from Brighton and Hove CID said:
"We are keen to hear from anyone who knows Nellie, what her habits are, what she likes to do in a typical day and where she likes to go. We are trying to build a picture of her and would be grateful for any information that the public could provide.
"We do know that despite her 96 years and suffering from dementia, she is a very independent little lady who made regular visits on her own to the BHS café in Churchill Square and the food hall in Marks & Spencers and liked to go for long walks even ones that took her half way to Worthing.
"Perhaps you are one of the people Nellie would say hello to, or you served her in a shop, or you where on the bus on one of the days she was travelling into town?
If so, please call us, every little bit of information is vital to help us build a picture of Nellie in the hope of finding her safe and well. "Nellie spent some of her early childhood in care in Broadstairs, Kent, before moving to Brighton years ago.
We know she worked as a parlour maid for a few years at a private property on Dyke Road, she never married and has no children. Her living relatives include a great nephew and great niece."
A dedicated team of Sussex Police officers, staff and volunteers have been actively looking for Nellie since she was reported missing to police on Wednesday 25 April. House to house enquiries are continuing, local hospitals have been regularly checked, posters of Nellie have been distributed throughout Brighton, helicopter and specialist search teams have been used in the search for her and hundreds of hours of CCTV viewed.
DI Cullimore continued: "We will continue to investigate every line of enquiry and to date there has been over 70 reported sightings of Nellie and many calls from concerned members of the public who think they may have seen her.
"The investigating team are incredibly grateful for all the help and support from the public and media to date. It is comforting to know that so many people are genuinely concerned for her welfare." If you know Nellie or had any contact with her on a regular basis please call 101 quoting serial 1448 of 25 April.
