Chloe Mitchell: Brother of missing Ballymena woman makes appeal

Search and rescue teams have been assisting in the hunt for 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell

The brother of a missing 21-year-old woman has appealed for information about her disappearance.

Chloe Mitchell, who is described as a "high-risk missing person", was last seen in Ballymena last Friday night into the early hours of Saturday.

Phillip Mitchell said he was "broken" by his sister's disappearance and appealed for privacy for his family.

Police have said they are continuing their searches but are "increasingly concerned" for her safety.

A 26-year-old man who was arrested in Lurgan in County Armagh is still being questioned.

Chloe Mitchell's brother Phillip said he is "broken" after her disappearance

The Community Rescue Service has conducted searches along the Braid River in the County Antrim town.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said Ms Mitchell was seen on CCTV walking in the direction of James Street at the weekend.

PSNI Supt Gillian Kearney says Chloe's family are very worried

"It's out of character for her not to have contacted her family or friends," PSNI Supt Gillian Kearney said on Friday afternoon.

"Her family are being supported by specialists but it's a very worrying time.

"I hope she is safe and well and that's why we are appealing for information and for the public to look at her photo and contact us if they have seen her."

A police cordon has been set up near homes on James Street

"Chloe was wearing a green and black The North Face-style jacket, a white t-shirt, leggings and Nike trainers," said Ch Insp Arnie O'Neill.

The Harryville Partnership Initiative, a community group for the area, said Ms Mitchell's family "want left in peace".

"It's a very hard time at present," the group said.

At the scene: Kevin Sharkey, BBC News NI reporter

As well as searches along the river, there are also other areas involved in this investigation, including a house on James Street.

The house is cordoned off and forensic enquires were taking place inside it earlier today.

As we head towards a full week from when Chloe Mitchell was last seen heading towards James Street, the thoughts of this community are with her family.

Community Rescue Service searching through dense shrubbery near James Street in Ballymena

On Thursday night, Community Rescue Service teams gathered along the banks of the Braid River while others searched in the river itself.

Spokesperson Darren Harper said it was a "pretty significant operation".

Darren Harper said the search area is significant in size and the terrain is difficult

Not easy terrain to search

Mr Harper said the river was not the only area being searched by at least 25 people.

"We do have the water technical team in the water and [on] the river banks and we also have ground teams searching other areas," he added.

He said difficult terrain, with dense shrubbery, brambles and steep river banks made the search difficult.

The hot weather also added to the challenge faced by personnel wearing waterproof gear, flotation devices and dry suits, he said.

Searches are being carried out along the river Braid and near James Street in Ballymena

Asked if the Community Rescue Service had found anything significant, Mr Harper said: "We wouldn't be doing our job right if we didn't have some sort of finds. That's then passed on to the police to find out if it's relevant or not."

One of the search sites on Friday evening was close to the ECOS centre near Ballymena

Another voluntary search and rescue group, K9 Search and Rescue, said in a social media post that its team had assisted in the search for Ms Mitchell in the Harryville area of Ballymena.

The PSNI appealed for anyone with information to contact them by phoning 101.