The search for missing Mearns mum Shona Johnston will begin to be scaled back today.
Police were last night assessing where to go next in their hunt for the 35-year-old, who was last seen in Stonehaven at 1pm on Tuesday.
Her black Nissan X Trail was found parked at Dunnottar Castle three hours later, but there have no been reported sightings of her at the attraction, or elsewhere.
And despite a major land, air and sea search spanning north of the castle to Catterline, no trace of Mrs Johnston has been found.
Yesterday, coastguard teams and specially trained search officers, and dogs scoured the paths, fields, countryside and cliffs in the area, while a police helicopter searched from above using on-board thermal imaging equipment.
Police divers also joined the effort, using ROV technology to scan the waters.
Last night Inspector Jon Millar said there were about 40 officers involved, as well as coastguard teams and the RNLI Stonehaven crew.
Officers are also going around the businesses in Stonehaven town centre, trying to trace Mrs Johnston’s movements after she was last seen on Robert Street at 1pm.
But Insp Millar said that so far there had not been any results, and that unless new information came to light, the operation would be scaled down.
He said: “We’ve searched extensively north and south along the cliff-line, beach areas and sea to look for her.
“It’s come to the point where we’ve done the vast majority of our search.
“We will continue some searches todayfri but we’re drawing to a close our expansive coastal search of the Dunnottar area.
“Should someone come forward with information about Shona, or can give us an indication of her movements after 1pm on Tuesday, we would obviously follow that up, which might lead us to new avenues of inquiry.”
Mrs Johnston, who has two young daughters, moved from her native Orkney to Drumlithie five months ago to be with her husband Graham, who works in the oil industry.
Earlier this week, her mother Sheena Ritch – who travelled from Deerness to visit her daughter’s new home at the weekend – said the whole family was “devastated” at her disappearance.
Insp Millar added: “We’ve been in frequent contact with Shona’s family and are keeping them up-to-date with developments. They are fully aware of the search developments and are thankful to the public for their support.”
Mrs Johnston – who is about 5ft 6in and slim with short brown hair – was wearing a green fleece, jeans and ankle boots when she was last seen. Anyone with information should call 101.