POLICE are hopeful they will trace a Nelson woman with mental health problems who went missing from the psychiatric ward of Burnley General Hospital.

Christiane Roper vanished from the hospital's psychiatric ward at around 1.30pm on Wednesday, June 23.

Since then police have received three possible sightings of the 31-year-old in the Nelson area.

The latest sighting was last Wednesday when a member of the public reported seeing her in Scotland Road. Other sightings were on a bus travelling between Nelson and Colne on July 7 and July 5 in Hibson Road.

Detective Inspector Dermott Horrigan said the person sighted last week was wearing a long blue coat like Christiane was wearing when she disappeared.

He said: "These sightings are very encouraging and we are optimistic they are genuine. We would ask people to remain vigilant and report any sightings to the police."

Christiane is around 5ft 8in tall with long, brown wavy hair and a prominent groove running down her forehead.

She was wearing a long skirt, a white T-shirt with a flowered pattern, a long, blue woollen coat and sandals, and carrying a black suede handbag.

Anyone with information can contact Nelson police on 01282 425001.