MARIE VERONICA REYNOLDS Last seen 7 August, 2002 Lives at Malpas, Newport 5ft 5ins tall, slim build Wears spectacles Mousy, greying hair; tied back

Marie Veronica Reynolds, 70, from Malpas, Newport, south Wales has not been seen since she vanished in the summer.

Gwent Police is this week digging up a canal bank neighbouring her home, fearing she may have fallen in and died during earlier drainage work.

Ms Reynolds' sister-in-law Ann Read visited the site on Thursday to seek information which could yield new leads for detectives.

Hope

"It is very hard to believe that this long and drawn-out wait could end so sadly," she said.

I truly believe she could not and would not have just left people behind Ann Read

"All of her family and friends have maintained hope throughout the last eight months and truly believe she could still be alive.

"It was never like Veronica to just go missing. I don't believe anyone can just disappear.

"Somebody somewhere must know something, perhaps without even realising it."

"We all miss her terribly - she was a kind, loving and thoughtful person. This is why I truly believe she could not and would not have just left people behind.

Excavation

Keen traveller Ms Reynolds - who had a close group of friends and played bridge at her local church club - was last seen on 7 August, 2002, at her home.

On Tuesday, Gwent Police began excavating the canal bank adjacent to the property, saying Wessex Water was carrying out work at the site at the time of her disappearance.

Police are digging at a canal bank

In work due to end on Friday, they are working with a forensic archaeologist on the Monmouthshire and Brecon waterway to establish whether Ms Reynolds accidentally fell in.

Inspector Paul Griffiths said: "Wessex Water were excavating land and filling in large pits and we are eliminating the possibility that Ms Reynolds could have fallen in from the canal towpath.

"So far we have only found a scooter and broken bottles - nothing of significance to the disappearance."

He said that, with search time running out, the chances of finding Ms Reynolds' body were diminishing.

The investigation would be reviewed if no trace of her was found, he said.