Gaynor Lord: Police ‘can’t explain’ why missing Norwich mum left work early

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Gaynor Lord say they still "can't explain" why she left work early on the day she went missing.

The mother-of-three's belongings were found by a member of the public scattered across Wensum Park in Norwich last Friday evening.

Hours before, the 55-year-old left work an hour early and is seen on CCTV hurrying through the city centre.

Norfolk Constabulary said her behaviour was "out of character".

The force added there was a "high probability" she had entered the River Wensum, which runs alongside the park.

Store cameras captured Gaynor Lord at work shortly before she left

Ch Supt Dave Buckley said: "We can't explain some of her behaviour that day.

"We're working really closely with the family, her friends and anyone else that we know may have had contact with her in recent days and weeks to try and understand why this may have happened."

Ms Lord worked as a retail assistant on a gin concession at Jarrolds department store in Norwich city centre.

She was due to finish work at 16:00 GMT but left via a loading bay at 14:45.

Police say Ms Lord did not take her usual route home from work

Police and specialist divers are continuing to search the area where Ms Lord's belongings were found.

Norfolk Constabulary said it might take another "couple of days" to complete its search.

On Thursday, officers released more CCTV footage of her last known movements in the hope it would "jog the memories" of anyone who might had seen her.

Thirty members of the public are known to have come forward with information about her disappearance.

The police CCTV appeals have not yet led to any new lines of inquiry, Ch Supt Dave Buckley said.

"Nobody knows why she's done what she's done and we'll just have to work to see if we can find out," he added.

Specialist divers have been scouring the river for three days

Police have been outlining the "extraordinarily challenging" conditions faced by specialist divers searching the river.

Visibility is said to be between zero and 1ft (0.3m) with temperatures as low as 4C (39F).

The rapid flow of the river caused by recent rainfall was the biggest problem, the force said.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue has been helping the search, assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's specialist under water drone.

Three types of sonar - a technique that uses sound to detect objects - have also been used.

Wensum Park remains closed to the public.

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