Police may re-search area previously covered in hunt for missing Westport woman Leanne Ryall

Police may re-search an area previously covered in the hunt for missing Westport woman Leanne Ryall.

Greymouth prevention sergeant Paul Watson said today that as the hunt for the 50-year-old continued they were looking at an additional search.

"An area previously covered that has a higher probability based on sightings and potential travel route."

He said the ability of the police to carry out a more focused search depended on sightings and information provided.

"When looking for an individual in even a township the size of Westport, this can be an enormous undertaking."

Watson said it was always possible in a search that the person missing could be out of the perceived search area.

"Which is where public assistance/sightings really assist our enquiries/efforts."

Ryall was last seen at about 9.15am on March 17 at the intersection of Queen and Bright streets.

Family, friends and firefighters searched for her that day but found no trace. They contacted police on the night of March 18.

Police called in LandSar to help with the search on the morning of March 19.

Friends, family and members of the community have continued to search abandoned buildings and bush areas since she disappeared. They have also distributed flyers and established a Facebook page.

Father 'in limbo'

Ryall's father, who lives in Dunedin, told The Press that his family was struggling to find answers.

Harry Ryall said the family had banded together to get a resolution. It was very difficult not knowing what had happened and they felt like they were in limbo.

He had talked to his daughter, who is one of five siblings, every two or three weeks and described her as a "people person". He had never noticed anything untoward when speaking with her, nor had her sisters, he said.

The community support for the family had been fantastic, he told the newspaper.

The Ryall family used to own Westport's Larsen's Tavern, which is now vacant. Searchers scoured the empty building three times after the disappearance.

- Westport News