DIVERS have been brought in as the search for a missing mum-of-two goes on.

A week on from when Lindsay Birbeck was reported missing, searches to find the Huncoat teaching assistant have intensified, with specialist divers searching lodges close to where she was last seen.

There has been no trace of the 47-year-old since she was last seen on CCTV walking along Burnley Road, Accrington, at around 4.30pm on August 12.

The police, fire service, mountain search and rescue teams and hundreds of members of the public have been tirelessly searching for Ms Birbeck ever since.

Speaking today, one of the detectives leading the investigation into Ms Birbeck’s disappearance, Detective Chief Inspector Allen Davies, said: “We are trying everything to locate Lindsay now. We know she was seen in the area of the Coppice, Accrington, and we have been carrying out searches here since then.

“It is a very densely populated area in terms of the trees and foliage and we currently have an extensive number of specially trained search officers in this area, completing searches supported by search advisors.

“Mountain rescue teams have been here we’ve had the helicopters and the dogs out. All have been supported by a team of about 35 detectives trying to locate Lindsay. We also now have search divers located in the lodges close to the area.”

And while the search is currently focused on the Coppice, the police have confirmed that detectives are looking at expanding the search to look into other possibilities.

Hundreds of members of the public have also been keen to help out, with an organised search party meeting at the entrance of the Coppice this evening to carry-out further searches. Det Ch Insp Davies said: “I am very thankful to the community. But we want to make sure that the public are helping out in a safe way. I would request that they carry out any searches in partnership with ourselves and the specially trained search officers to ensure their safety and to coordinate our searches.” Appeals to locate a dog walker who may have seen Lindsay close to the Coppice last Monday continue. Contact police on 101 quoting log 0016 of August 13. For immediate sightings call 999.