Land and river searches for missing Irish physiotherapist Susan Forde have begun in the west of Lewis.

Susan Forde, 56, arrived in Scotland in October after being in France for several months. She stayed for three nights at the Caladh Inn in Stornoway. She has now been missing for nearly a month.

Ms Forde left the Killarney area for France in March. Last month, the 56-year-old made her way to Scotland, visiting Edinburgh before journeying to Lewis.

She was seen on CCTV while at the Caladh Inn hotel and that was around 5.12pm on Sunday, October 16, heading towards the town's bus station, only a few minutes from the hotel. From there, she phoned a taxi and asked to be taken to the Borve House Hotel, on the far west side of the island. She was dropped off at the four-star, nine-bedroom hotel.

The hotel confirmed its accommodation was closed that day so they had no one booked in to stay.

The taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said: "I remember it clearly. I picked the lady up on Sunday, October 16, at Stornoway bus station. It was after 5pm. I know it was about then as it was nearing the end of my shift.

"She was very pleasant throughout the journey. She told me she was on holiday and just travelling about. When we got to Borve, she asked to be dropped off in the car park of the hotel and I just left her there."

As far as is known. that was the last sighting of Ms Forde. There appear have been no sightings or contact from her since. Susan's family say they are "understandably worried" and are desperate to have her home safe.

Now the focus of the search has switched from Stornoway to Borve. Members of Hebrides Mountain Rescue Team (HebMRT) have  joined coastguards and police in carrying out searches of the Borve area.

On Saturday (November 12) they were seen searching the River Borve which runs alongside the Borve House Hotel.

Police said that Ms Forde was thought to have been wearing an orange top, a dark-coloured jacket with white lining, blue trousers or jeans, walking boots and a cream/grey coloured tammy hat when she vanished. She was also wearing spectacles and carrying a backpack.

Anyone who has seen Susan or has any information as to where she might be is urged to contact Police Scotland, quoting incident number 1262 of November 2, 2022.

Video: Searches and Borve House Hotel:  https://youtu.be/N7Wm7nB2yOE

THE CALADH INN, photo Sandie Maciver (other photos from Police Scotland)