Police officers are searching private land in the hunt for missing Laurel Aldridge. Mrs Aldridge, sister-in-law to The Office actor Mackenzie Crook, was reported missing on February 14.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, Mr Crook said his family was “clutching at straws” a week after the disappearance of his wife’s older sister, 62, but they remain “determined and driven” to find her. Mr Crook said her disappearance has been “agonising” for the family. He said they believe her disappearance could be linked to her ongoing chemotherapy treatment.
Sussex Police said it was continuing the search for Mrs Aldridge on private land on Tuesday, after she went missing from her home in Walberton, in the Arundel area of West Sussex. She was last spotted at Slindon Cricket Club, a 10-minute drive from Walberton, and there were two Sussex Police dog unit vehicles as well as another car with missing posters stuck to its rear windscreen parked at the club. Walberton residents described the Sussex Police search effort as “amazing” and said the village had nothing but sympathy for the family.
One resident, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency: “The police presence has been very much noticed, it’s the talk of the village. The actor [Mackenzie Crook] said the same thing and it’s nice to have the police praised for once.
“I didn’t know her but I know a lot of people who do. I suppose she went out of the village as there’s lots of woodland towards the Downs, so if she wanted to hide away there she’s got plenty of places she would never be found. There’s a lot of sympathy for the situation.”
Another person, who works at a village business and also did not want to be named, said: “The police have been great, knocking on everybody’s doors. We get so many customers it’s hard to know if she might have come in.”
Mrs Aldridge is described as being around 5ft 4in with grey/blonde highlighted hair and sometimes wears glasses. She was last seen wearing a turquoise fleece, a maroon tartan scarf and brown hat. She also had a grey puffer jacket with her which she is likely to have been wearing.
Drivers are asked to report to Sussex Police online or via 101 if there is someone who matches her description in their dashcam footage, especially if they have driven around the A27 or A29.
