Who is Gaynor Lord and where was she last seen?

POLICE have launched an urgent search for Gaynor Lord after she went missing in Norwich on December 8.

Some of the clothes she was wearing when she disappeared were found later the same day in a local park.

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Who is Gaynor Lord?

Gaynor, 55, worked as a retail assistant for Bullards Gin, at Jarrold’s department store in the Norfolk city.

The missing mum-of-three is thought to be married to a successful financial advisor.

Gaynor, who has blonde shoulder-length hair in a bob, is described as white and 5ft 6 inches tall.

She was last seen, walking along London Street, in Norwich, wearing a white shirt and yellow tank top with a large olive-coloured coat over the top and a scarf.

Where was she last seen?

CCTV showed Gaynor leaving her job at Bullards Gin via Bedford St at 2.45pm, just over an hour before she was due to finish work at 4pm.

Later the same day, a member of the public discovered her belongings in the city's Wensum Park.

Her clothing, a white work shirt and yellow tank top, along with two rings, mobile phone and glasses were found across the park and her olive-coloured coat was discovered in the water.

Cops confirmed the clothes she was wearing at the time were all located in the park raising the prospect she went missing at least partially unclothed.

Officers declined to comment on whether her trousers were found.

Police divers, assisted by fire crews and the coastguard, scoured the nearby River Wensum yesterday using sonar equipment to examine the water.

Officers have also used drones and foot searches in the hunt for further clues.

How long has she been missing?

Gaynor was last seen on December 8 at 2.45pm heading towards Norwich cathedral.

She has not been seen since.

Officers confirmed the clothes she was wearing at the time were all located in the park raising the prospect she went missing at least partially unclothed.

The river is now the main focus of attention for the authorities.

Specialist underwater search teams have now been brought in to help with the search.

Norwich Policing Commander, Superintendent Wes Hornigold, said: “Gaynor left work early and didn’t take her normal route home.

“We haven’t been able to establish why she left early and her disappearance is out of character so we are naturally concerned for her welfare.

“There’s no evidence that Gaynor has come to harm and while we have a number of enquiries ongoing, given where her clothing was found and other items, there is a real possibility she has entered the water.

“We’ve been liaising with the National Crime Agency (NCA) who have given advice around specialist underwater dive teams and we’re seeking assistance from forces with this capability. We hope resources will be on the ground later today or tomorrow.

“This is clearly a distressing time for her family. We have specialist officers supporting them and continue to keep them updated of our ongoing work.”

Timeline revealed 

• Gaynor is seen leaving work at 2.45pm on December 8 via Bedford St, she was due to finish at 4pm.
• She was then seen London Street heading towards the cathedral.
• Later the same day her clothing and some of her possessions were found in Wensum Park with her coat discovered in the river.
• The member of the public who found the items reported the discovery to police just after 8pm.
• Cops were able to identify her from her ID found in her handbag.
• When they visited her home address they discovered she had not returned home.
• The park was closed on December 9 as police search the area, including the Wensum river.

Anyone with information or who knows of her whereabouts should contact Norfolk Police on 101 quoting incident number 427 of 8 December 2023.