The desperate family of an 81-year-old woman who has been missing since New Year’s Day are continuing their appeal to find her despite “heart-breaking facts from police”.

Gloria Stringer was last seen on Monday, January 1, close to her Hollingbourne home in Hospital Road and it has since been revealed she has previously been found in other people’s gardens.

Sightings of Mrs Stringer include one at the Tudor Park Hotel along the Ashford Road and police suggest she may have walked down a nearby dirt path.

Last week search teams admitted they were running out of information leading to her whereabouts following 1,500 hours of searches.

Mrs Stringer, who lives with her husband, is described as being very capable, fit, and healthy, and was known to be fond of walking but could sometimes become confused.

One theory held by investigators is that Mrs Stringer may have tried to take shelter during storm Eleanor, which hit the county at the start of the month.

In a Facebook post on the Help Find Missing Gloria page a family member wrote: “Extensive searches of Hollingbourne area have been made and no clue has been found.

“Back in November Gloria was found in a person’s garden in Staplehurst hidden behind some trees the property owner only discovered her around midnight when he let his dogs out.

“Also last year Gloria was also found in Leybourne. There have also been a couple of instances when she has been seen on the Coxheath road .

“As you can see Gloria has been known to travel great distances on foot. Her family is very concerned now and need the public’s help to find her .

“Ramblers, horse riders, fishermen, farmers, dog walkers we urge you all to keep an eye out.

"As you have read above you can see Gloria liked to walk so it’s not just Kent area but other areas as well.”

Another post on Thursday stated: “Today I have heard the heart breaking hard facts from the police and we need to find Gloria as soon as possible, the weather has been so against us and the outcome is very daunting.

“Saying that we remain positive and will never give up looking. We just need your continued help and support, any info will be greatly appreciated and investigated, we will find her and will never give up.”