THE senior detective leading the search to find missing Margaret Fleming insists there is still no evidence to contradict the carers' claims.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone has been appealing for information on Margaret, 36, who was last seen in public in 1999.

And he has said there is yet no indication of any wrongdoing by the woman's two carers Avril Jones and Edward Cairney at their house in Inverkip, Inverclyde.

Earlier this week there was allegations made that people had visited the pair at the home and even went on holiday with them, without ever being aware of Margaret living there.

The carers reported that Margaret was missing on October 28 and despite an extensive search by police, no trace of her has been found.

And DCI Livingstone said there is no evidence to suggest anything other than what the carers have told police.

He said: "There is no evidence of any crime having been committed and Margaret's carers are still assisting us with our inquiries.

"They would ask Margaret who she was spending time with and she would say 'that's private'.

"I have no evidence to contradict what the carers are telling us. There are people who do keep aspects of their lives private."

Police have sealed off Margaret and the carers' cottage home and have been conducting a major search of the property.

A digger was brought in to the property and a 12ft-long trench has since been dug in the garden in an attempt to find clues to Margaret's whereabouts.

DCI Livingstone added: "The search continues but we haven't found anything in the garden so far. We're keeping an open mind."

He confirmed that Margaret was initially reported missing after police made a joint visit to the property with the social work department.

They failed to find any trace of her at that time, and the detective confirmed the carers had been looking after Margaret until that date.

Hundreds of people have been spoken to by police and leaflets have been handed out in the area in an effort to find her.

But there has still been no indication as to where Margaret could have been since she was last publicly seen in 1999, or where she has been since she was reported missing.

DCI Livingstone said: "We haven't heard from anyone who has actually spoken to Margaret in that time, but we remain open to the possibility that Margaret could have been in another room."

Before Margaret started living with the carers in 1997, she lived with her father Frederick in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, until his death in 1995.

She then lived with her grandparents and mother Margaret until moving in with the carers.

Police are still working to establish more information about her background and life before she lived in Inverkip.

More leaflets were handed out in the area on Thursday to assist with these inquiries.

DCI Livingstone said: "Officers will continue to work to bottom these out as part of the investigation to piece together more detail of Margaret's background.

"I would continue to ask anyone who may have any piece of information that may help, however small, to get in touch with the investigation team based at Helen Street Police Office in Govan on 101."