Police are carrying out a high profile “stop and speak” in Oban this morning as they continue the search for missing woman Chrystalla Dean.
Officers hope to jog the memory of any dog walkers who may have seen Ms Dean or her two pets last week.
The 51-year-old has been missing for a week despite major search operations in and around the Argyll town.
Police dive teams, the helicopter, mountain rescue teams, coastguard and lifeboat, as well as many local volunteers, have been involved in the search.
Sergeant Iain MacNicol and four officers will be on the Esplanade close to the Corran Halls between 7.15am and 11am speaking to as many people as possible.
Sergeant MacNicol said: “We are looking to stop and speak to as many members of the public as possible to ask if they remember seeing Chrystalla in Oban on either Thursday 15 or Friday 16 December.
“We will also be asking the public if they remember seeing Chrystalla with her two dogs which are both Collie/Lurcher crosses, one having a grey and black wiry coat and the other having a brown and white short coat. The dogs may have been with Chrystalla or they may have been seen on their own.”
Officers are growing increasingly concerned about Ms Dean, whom they said had been dealing with some “personal issues” recently.
Sergeant MacNicol said they would speak to as many people as possible.
He said: “Our first choice is the Esplanade. If it is too wild we will move it a bit more into the shelter.
“We are increasingly concerned as it is now a week since she was reported missing. We would continue to appeal to the public for any information. Dog walkers tend to remember dogs. We hope this might trigger their memories.”
She was last seen by her daughter last Thursday at about 8pm at her home in Longsdale Crescent.
The following day her daughter returned and when her mother failed to come home that evening she called police and reported her missing.
Ms Dean normally walks her dogs in a wooded area known locally as The Witches.
It is believed she may have taken one of her dogs for a walk there but the pet arrived home without her.
Ms Dean is about 5ft1in tall, of slim build, with curly hair which is dyed blue. She may have been wearing a red top, jeans and boots.
