Police are no closer to finding a 20-year-old student who disappeared two months ago despite a massive hunt by two forces and a mountain rescue unit.
Annie Dryden boarded a train in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, on January 4, before getting off at nearby Battersby, a rural hamlet in the North York Moors National Park.
She hasn’t been since, and police fear she may have got into trouble hiking in the remote moorland or even that she could even be in London.
But so far their investigation has failed to yield any clues.
The investigation was first launched by Cleveland Police, but transferred to North Yorkshire Police after CCTV emerged of Annie getting off the train in Battersby.
Police are no closer to finding a 20-year-old student Annie Dryden who disappeared two months ago
Police fear she may have got into trouble hiking in the remote moorland or even that she could even be in London
Today marks two months since the investigation was ramped up to include a larger search area over to the village of Castleton, near Whitby.
Annie’s family issued a desperate plea for help last month, saying, ‘you don’t need to come home, we just need to know you are ok’.
But it is understood that despite a huge effort by North Yorkshire Police, which has been leading the search alongside mountain rescue teams, no significant developments have occurred.
Annie was seen on footage boarding a train at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital shortly after 2pm on January 4, before getting off at Battersby around half an hour later.
As well as the North York Moors, questions were also raised over whether Annie could have somehow travelled to London after it emerged she had connections in Sidcup.
However, police said North Yorkshire remained the focus of their search.
Annie pictured on CCTV getting on a train in Middlesbrough at 2pm on January 4
Annie was last seen wearing a black jumper and cap
Annie’s family issued a desperate plea for help last month , saying, ‘you don’t need to come home, we just need to know you are ok’
The search to find Annie has involved a search across the North York Moors National Park
Two police forces and mountain rescue have been involved in the operation
A statement issued by Annie’s family said: ‘We love you and we miss you but we also understand there were events coming up at home which were causing you upset.
‘These have now passed. So many people are worried about you, we are receiving so many messages from those concerned about you. Please just get in touch with someone.’
The police previously asked the public to not speculate about the family’s statement on social media, as the message contents are ‘personal to her and her loved ones.’
Local councillor Heather Moorhouse, who lives a mile from where Annie was last sighted, previously said that everyone from horse riders to rambling groups had been helping emergency services in the hunt.
Conservative councillor Moorhouse said: ‘I know the people in Battersby – it’s a tiny place and there are no buses. If she left Battersby, it was either by train or by foot.
‘I know the local shooters and horse riders have been helping the mountain rescue team. They’ve had drones out and helicopters searching. The police have done a tremendous job so far but of course there are fears for her safety in this bad weather.’
The college where Annie had been studying also pitched in to keep the inquiry in the public eye.
Annie has dark hair with a distinctive blonde fringe and a scar above her top lip
Police said she was ‘very familiar with the outdoors and wild camping’
Dr Martin Raby, principal at The Northern School of Art, said: ‘As a college, we are deeply concerned about Annie, one of our former successful students, who has been missing for some time now. The safety of Annie is of concern to all our staff and many current students who are worried about her wellbeing.
‘We would urge anyone who has had any contact from Annie, or may have any information, please contact the police directly. We all hope Annie returns safely as soon as possible.’
Detective Chief Inspector Fionna McEwan previously said that Annie is, ‘very familiar with the outdoors and wild camping’ but would, ‘likely to be wet and muddy and in need of supplies’.
Annie has dark hair with a distinctive blonde fringe and a scar above her top lip. She was last seen carrying a distinctive green and black walking backpack. She is described as approximately 5ft 10ins tall and of slim build.
Anyone with information on Annie’s whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police.
The charity Missing People can also be contacted by either calling or texting 116000.