Mary Duncan search finds no trace of mum missing since 1976

A new search for a mum who went missing almost 45 years ago has come to an end without finding any trace of her.

Police investigating the disappearance of Mary Duncan said they had searched a number of sites in West Dunbartonshire.

Mary was 17 when she disappeared from her home in Alexandria in 1976.

The teenager, who had a 13-month-old daughter, vanished after telling her family she was going to meet a friend. Her daughter later died of natural causes.

Searches at two sites at the Vale of Leven hospital in Alexandria began on Monday, August 17, and a further search at a site in a residential area of Helensburgh began on Monday, 7 September.

A number of teams took part in the hunt, which concluded on Friday, December 4.

Detective superintendent Calum Young said: “I can confirm that planned ground searches have now concluded, no further trace or information about Mary’s whereabouts has been found and the Duncan family have been fully updated.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and management at the Vale of Leven Hospital for their support during search activity within the hospital, and also thank the public and media for helping to ensure that any disruption was kept to a minimum.

“Our enquiries into Mary’s disappearance remain ongoing, I would ask anyone who may have any information to contact Police Scotland on 101.”