Search for Englishwoman continues

Rescue teams are continuing to search Arthur's Pass National Park this morning for missing English tramper Elizabeth Thomson.

Ms Thomson, 55, of Kent, failed to return to the Arthur's Pass Youth Hostel after a day tramp on Saturday.

Her backpack was found, with empty sandwich bags, a water bottle and car keys at the edge of the bush at an altitude of 1700m the following day.

Canterbury police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Tony Tully told NZPA about 33 people -- police and civilian -- had begun the search at 8am and there was no intention of scaling down the operation.

Four dog teams were also involved in the search, he said.

Mr Tully said the alpine cliff rescue staff from Christchurch had been called in for their expertise and were expected to join the search at midday to look at some "gnarly areas".

The terrain the alpine staff would be focused on was a highly dangerous area, he said.

The terrain was rugged and the bush and scrub waist-deep in parts, with some parts of the bush thick and impenetrable.

While the day was clear it had been a cold night and the weather was expected to deteriorate over the day, he said.

"It's only going to get worse. We're expecting rain and high winds," he said.

However, the search and rescue staff were focused on the day ahead and had planned the operation for tomorrow also, he said.

- NZPA