Police and search specialists are centring on routes which were used by 23-year-old
The search for missing long distance runner Jenny Hall is centred on a 4,942 acre forest popular with joggers today.
Jenny, 23, was last seen leaving her home at Barracks Farm, Tow Law, Co. Durham, on Tuesday just after 3pm. Her red Ford Focus was found parked on the B6278 in remote moorland less than 10 miles away between Eggleston and Stanhope on Wednesday.
Ms Hall, a keen runner, is described as 6ft (1.8m) tall with very long dark hair and was last seen wearing a blue hoodie with a John Deere logo and dark jogging bottoms. Durham Police officers were working in Hamsterley Forest, where Ms Hall was known to run, and the surrounding areas.
Hamsterley Forest was created by Forestry England in the 1920s. Sections are used for lumber production, but the area is also popular with walkers and cyclists. Spanning 4,942 acres (2,000ha), it is the largest woodland in County Durham and is located about 16 miles (26km) from Tow Law. It attracts about 200,000 visitors a year, according to Forestry England.
The search is now focused on the running trails Ms Hall frequently uses, with seven drones, around 60 mountain rescue volunteers and 10 of their dogs deployed over the weekend. Ch Insp Haythornthwaite of Durham Police thanked those who had contacted them with information so far. “We really do appreciate your help and support,” he said. He said the force was aware that families would be walking around the forest recreationally and asked them to give space to officers conducting the search. “Try not to disrupt the search area,” he said.
Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team (TWSMRT) said its teams had so far searched over 60 miles (96.5km) of paths and tracks in Hamsterley Forest. “The biggest challenge is the area size itself and the terrain,” said volunteer Peter Bell. “The terrain is muddy and boggy.”
A spokesperson for TWSMRT previously thanked the public for offers of help, but individuals were advised not to try and assist as it could “hamper the systematic search”. Motorbike officers and specialised sniffer dogs have also been involved in the search. Durham Police urged anyone with any information to ring 999.