FRENCH police are expected to visit East Lancashire this month as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Evelyn Lund.

The 53-year-old lived at a farm in Winter Hill, Darwen, before moving to France to start a new life with her second husband, Robert, 48.

She disappeared on December 29 after spending an afternoon with English friends who lived nearby.

Concerns grew when she failed to contact her family on her birthday and wedding anniversary.

Mr Lund was questioned by French police for 24 hours as part of their inquiries. The couple's converted barn near Montpellier has been searched during the major operation to trace the mother-of-three.

Mrs Lund's daughter, Patricia Taylor, 30, of Franklin Road, Witton, Blackburn, said: "We have given the French police a list of all my mum's friends and family, including people in East Lancashire, who might be able to help with the investigation. They said they were hoping to come this month but we haven't got a definite date. "

An extensive search of the Montpellier area has been carried out in a bid to find Mrs Lund and her Toyota Landcruiser.

The army has used trained dogs in the search and a helicopter was drafted in. Divers searched lakes and a military satellite used to look at woodlands and ravines in the area.

Patricia and her sisters, Victoria and Elizabeth, have been interviewed in France by the police and authorities in Spain have also been informed of Mrs Lund's disappearance.

Mrs Lund's first husband, Arthur Taylor, died of cancer in the early 1990s.

She married Mr Lund, a former Blackburn Council tree protection officer, six years ago.