Sarah Wellgreen: Murder probe into missing mother of five Published duration 24 October 2018

image copyright Kent Police image caption Sarah Wellgreen was last seen during the evening of 9 October

The disappearance of a missing mother of five is being treated as a murder inquiry.

Sarah Wellgreen, 46, was last seen in the Bazes Shaw area of New Ash Green, in Kent, on the evening of 9 October.

Her car was left at her home address and there have been no new transactions on her bank or credit cards. A man in his 30s was arrested and bailed.

Det Supt Paul Fotheringham said she had missed one of her children's birthdays and "disappeared without a trace".

In Bazes Shaw, an area of woodland was cordoned off and police helicopters could be seen overhead.

Police said at about 16:25 BST that searches were being carried out off Scratchers Lane, with eyewitnesses saying they had seen forensic teams in the area.

He said her disappearance was "entirely out of character" and being treated "as a potential murder".

"She'd just had a new job offer she was looking forward to. She has spoken to friends about looking forward to the future and, most significantly, she has now missed one of her children's birthdays," he said.

"The only item missing from the home is her black iPhone 4."

media caption Police said Sarah Wellgreen had missed her child's birthday

Experts with specialist technology and forensic scientists have been working with officers to try to find Ms Wellgreen.

Hundreds of villagers have joined police in searching for her in New Ash Green and surrounding rural areas.

image copyright Kent Police image caption The search for Sarah Wellgreen is being concentrated on a five-mile area around New Ash Green

Residents, businesses and landowners in rural areas around New Ash Green and in the area bordered by the A2, M25, Meopham, Cobham, Horton Kirby and Darenth have been urged to check their sheds, outbuildings and areas of rough ground or woodland for any sign of her.

Det Supt Fotheringham also urged anyone who had seen anything suspicious in the New Ash Green area to contact police.

He said: "We are particularly interested to hear from anyone with fixed CCTV cameras within a five-mile radius of New Ash Green, whether this is residential or commercial CCTV to come forward."

He also appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to contact Kent Police.