DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of mum-of-two Lindsay Birbeck are appealing for information in a bid to find a dog walker who was in the area at around the time she was last seen. 

The high level teaching assistant, from Huncoat, has been missing since Monday afternoon, sparking a missing persons investigation. 

CCTV footage shows Ms Birbeck walking in the Burnley Road area, towards the direction of Accrington, at around 4.10pm on August 12. 

Officers have been carrying out several enquiries but so far there has been no trace of the 47-year-old. 

Detectives have reason to believe she may have walked from Burnley Road into a wooded area known as The Coppice. 

They have now launched an appeal to track down a dog walker who they say was in the Peel Park Avenue area between 4-5pm on Monday and who may have seen Ms Birbeck. 

The dog walker is described as a white man, aged in his late 40s, 5ft 6in tall, of medium build with short dark hair and glasses. He is believed to have been wearing a dark jacket or coat and was walking a small black Labrador.

Det Insp Tim McDermott, of Lancashire Police, said: “We believe this man would have seen Lindsay around 4.30pm at the top of Peel Park Avenue, close to the allotments, on the day she went missing. 

“If this is you, or you recognise the man described, please come forward immediately. 

“Lindsay’s family are obviously very worried about her disappearance as it is very out of character. 

“We would encourage anyone who has seen Lindsay, or knows where she is, to contact police immediately."

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 0016 of August 13. For immediate sightings please call 999