Police divers and search and rescue dogs have joined in the third day of a search for a missing Aberdeenshire mother-of-two.
Police and coastguard rescue team resumed the search for Shona Johnston, 35, in the area north and south of Dunnottar Castle this morning.
It comes as her mother spoke to the Press and Journal of having spent a happy weekend with her daughter before she was reporting missing.
Mrs Johnston’s family grew concerned for her after she failed to return to her family home near Drumlithie on Tuesday at 4pm – and alerted the emergency services.
A Police Scotland helicopter has been called in again to scour the coast and fields in the Dunnottar area using thermal imaging equipment.
Search officers and dog handlers with search and rescue dogs have also been covering the coastal area on foot, while police divers are also assisting using sonar and remote-operated underwater vehicles in the sea.
Inspector Jon Millar said : “We currently have a team of around 40 officers including additional assistance from our colleagues from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and local RNLI station at Stonehaven out searching for Shona.
“Her car was found parked at the Dunnottar Castle car park and so our searches are focussing on this area but we have also had officers checking with local businesses in Stonehaven for any sightings of her on the morning of Tuesday 24 February as well as any sightings of her after 1.00pm that day, when she was last seen.
“We are making use of all available resources from across Police Scotland to find Shona and if anyone thinks they may have saw her on Tuesday I would ask that they get in touch with us.”
Mrs Johnston – who is about 5ft 6ins and slim with short brown hair – was wearing a green fleece, jeans and ankle boots when she was last seen.