VIDEO: Police hand out leaflets in search for missing Inverkip woman
Officers are stepping up their hunt for Margaret Fleming who they fear may have "come to harm"
Police searching for a woman with learning difficulties last seen 17 years ago are handing out leaflets in a bid to trace her.
Margaret Fleming from Inverkip was reported missing on Friday 28th October 2016 but there's been no sighting of her since December 1999.
Specialist officers have been digging up the garden of her carers as part of their inquiry.
DCI Paul Livingstone is appealing to anyone who may have visited the house for social or business purposes to come forward.
Although he says he's been "encouraged" by the response to the appeal for information earlier in the week, he is now particularly keen to hear from anyone who has been at the cottage in Main Road, Inverkip.
DCI Livingstone said, "I am heartened by the encouraging response from the appeal for information and we have had a number of people phoning the team to say they remember or recognise Margaret.
"We also had a few people saying that they had visited the house that she is believed to stay at with her carers in Inverkip.
" I'm keen to speak to anyone else who has visited the home, whether socially or for business purposes as they may have seen or heard something that could help with the investigation.
"That could be someone making deliveries such as for shopping or takeaway food or perhaps doing building work on the premises. I'm really keen for anyone to get in touch.
Officers have received information from people who believe they have recognised the image of Margaret and are following those up.
Today uniformed officers will be distributing leaflets to local residents and businesses in the Inverkip and Port Glasgow areas to try and jog people's memories.
He continued, "Officers will continue to work to bottom these out as part of the investigation to piece together more detail to Margaret's background.
"We also have officers who will be visible in the local Inverclyde area, delivering leaflets with Margaret's image and engaging with more local people to see if they remember anything.
"Officers continue to search a house and grounds in Inverkip, as well as searching nearby areas. I would continue to ask anyone who may have any piece of information that may help, however small, to get in touch with the investigation team based at Helen Street Police Office, Govan on 101."