THE senior police officer leading the search for a vulnerable Inverkip woman has revealed that she has not been seen in public for ‘quite some time’.

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of Margaret Fleming, 36, just over a week after the first public appeal was made.

Now Chief Inspector Elliot Brown, area commander for Greenock, has again asked for help to trace her.

The senior officer also set out the difficulties his officers have faced with their investigation so far.

Now they are appealing for people who knew Margaret when she was at James Watt College 20 years ago, and may have kept in touch with since, to come forward.

Yesterday a large-scale search continued with police divers deployed and officers spotted combing a large area of ground near the electricity sub-station in the hillside above the A78.

Chief Inspector Brown said: “As our enquiries have progressed, we’ve been carrying out a number of door-to-door enquiries in the area. 

“However, we are currently working with limited information as we understand that Margaret has not been seen in public for quite some time, hence why we’ve been unable to issue a recent photograph of her.”

The chief inspector went in to some detail about the inquiry and how little is known so far.

He added: “During any missing person inquiry, officers receive information from a number of avenues and usually firstly from the persons who last saw them. 

“In Margaret’s case, officers spoke to her carers, who stated they last saw her at 17.40 hours on Friday 28 October. 

“From the information we’ve received, we’ve been trying to create a picture of Margaret, her background, her interests and relationships as part of the investigation to find her.

“From the information we’ve received Margaret lived a relatively quiet life, however she is believed to have had some friends. 

“Therefore we are working backwards to try to find out more about Margaret, so we’ve been speaking to friends and family members to establish a clearer picture of her life over the years.

“We do know that Margaret was a student at James Watt College in Greenock, from 1996-97, therefore we’d be keen to speak to anyone who remembers her from then, and who might have been in touch with her over the years.”

As the major police search continues people in Inverkip told the Tele very little is known about Margaret.

One village resident said: “I live in the Main Street and I have lived in the village all my life.

“It is a great community.

“But people do not seem to know Margaret, or know anything about what has happened to her.

“We are all very concerned about it though.”

Margaret is described as around 5ft 5 inches in height, with collar length black hair and brown eyes. 

She is described as being of heavy build. 

When last seen, she was said to be wearing a green-coloured tartan fleece or jumper, dark coloured jeans or trousers, had ‘Karrimor’ type boots on, which were dark in colour, and a satchel-type handbag.

Chief Inspector Brown said: “I would like to make it clear that finding out what has happened to Margaret is a priority for my team here in Greenock.”

Anyone with any information at all about Margaret is urged to contact police at Greenock via 101.