Police have said the disappearance of a mother of five a fortnight ago is being treated as a potential murder, as it emerged she has missed the birthday of one of her children.

Sarah Wellgreen was last seen in Bazes Shaw in New Ash Green on Tuesday, October 9, and she has not been in contact with her family since.

She had just received a new job offer and was described as "looking forward to the future" by friends.

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are now investigating the 46 year old's disappearance and are treating it as suspicious.

Her car was left at her home address and since she disappeared, there have been no new transactions on her bank or credit cards.

This morning, head of major crime Det Supt Paul Fotheringham said: "It is entirely out of character for her to go missing and having conducted extensive inquiries and searches, this case is now being treated as a potential murder.

"She just had a job offer she was looking forward to. She talked to friends about looking forward to the future and significantly she has just missed one of her child's birthdays.

"Sarah has disappeared without a trace, the only item missing from the home is her black iPhone 4.

"Officers have conducted extensive searches in New Ash Green and surrounding rural areas.

Police continue searching New Ash Green after Sarah Wellgreen's disappearance

"While we continue our investigation and inquiries, I would urge anybody who saw anything suspicious in the New Ash Green area at around the time Sarah went missing, that is overnight from the evening of Tuesday, October 9, into the morning of Wednesday, October 10, to contact us.

"We have experts with specialist technology and forensic scientists working with us to try and find Sarah.

"Residents, businesses and landowners in the rural areas around New Ash Green are asked to check their outhouses, and areas surrounding their properties.

"We are particularly interested to hear from anyone with fixed CCTV cameras within a five mile radius of New Ash Green, whether this is residential or commercial cctv to come forward.

"Likewise, anyone who was out on the evening of the October 9 to the morning of October 10 in that five mile area who has dashcam in their vehicle, please contact us.

"We are also appealing to those living and working in the area bordered by the A2, M25, Meopham, Cobham, Horton Kirby and Darenth to check their sheds, outbuildings and areas of rough ground or woodland for any sign of Sarah.

"Dog walkers and anyone out in rural areas should also call us if they see anything that seems suspicious.

"If you think you may have seen Sarah or something suspicious but are not sure, please do not hesitate to call and let us know.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already called us, assisted with searches or sent messages of support to family who have been badly affected by Sarah’s disappearance."

Police have stepped up their efforts to locate the missing mother-of-five who disappeared more than two weeks ago.

"It is entirely out of character for her to go missing and having conducted extensive inquiries and searches, this case is now being treated as a potential murder..." - Det Supt Paul Fotheringham

This morning officers are searching more areas of woodland along with people living in the village who have volunteered to help search again.

Hundreds of residents from the area helped officers conduct a search of woodlands over the weekend in an attempt to find the 46-year-old.

The area around her home was searched at the weekend, when neighbours and friends from her village joined the huge search.

About 100 people living nearby helped search woodland areas last Saturday and about the same amount of people also searched on Sunday.

Woodland near her home was taped-off by police during the first week of her disappearance while officers conducted the search with dogs and drones and scoured the nearby countryside looking for the missing mum.

Her son Lewis Burdett 22, said he was very grateful to everyone who has helped search for his mum.

He said: "I'm really grateful to everyone who has taken there time to share the post about my mum around all of the UK and further.

"And a massive thank you to every that has participated in the search of the local area it mean a tremendous amount to me and my family, we are so happy with the way the community has come together to help and support us."

Officers were in the area for several days and neighbours said police left her home and the area on Monday this week.

Yesterday officers officers moved their search to areas near Grange Lane, Hartley, and later this morning, people living in the area will be assisting.

A woman from the the village where Miss Wellgreen lives decided to organise volunteers to be available for searches and officers will direct the people to areas where they can assist this morning.

A man in his 30s, was arrested last Tuesday in connection with her disappearance, he was questioned for three days after detectives applied for extensions to his custody.

He has been bailed until Friday, November 16.

If anyone has any information please call Kent Police on 0207 158 0011. Freephone 0800 056 0154 quoting 11-0423.

If you have cctv or dashcam footage then please upload it by clicking this link.