THE case of a woman who has been missing from Whitehaven for more than four years has featured on a podcast dedicated to missing people.

Leanne Smith was last seen leaving her home on Rydal Avenue at about 6pm on September 15, 2019.

Extensive searches have been carried out but Leanne has never been found.

The case has now been explored on The Unseen podcast, which discusses unsolved missing person cases in the UK.

Caprice, who hosts the podcast, said: “I always wanted to cover stories of missing people, unsolved cases and unidentified people in the UK, particularly ones that get less coverage in the media.

“When they go cold, these cases often get forgotten about and it’s a tragedy for them and their families.

“I’ve always hoped to shine a light on these cases as nobody should be forgotten about and you never know, someone may come forward with information.

“I found Leanne’s case while doing a search of missing person cases and being from the North West myself, I wanted to cover it and also given she went missing relatively recently, I hoped I could help.

“I really felt for Leanne’s family. They’re always at the forefront of my mind when I cover a case, particularly missing people.”

Leanne, who was 39 when she went missing, was said to be wearing a blue coat and carrying a handbag, with black shoulder-length hair in a ponytail.

The police investigation into Leanne’s disappearance involved scouring the coastal, rural and urban areas in and around Whitehaven, specialist trained search officers, police dogs, police drones, a police helicopter and assistance from the Coastguard.

Leigh Smith, of Maryport, has organised recent public searches for Leanne but no trace of her has been found.

He said: "It's vital to keep searching for missing people and to keep their case out there. This isn't just about Leanne to me. This is about the safety of every woman in Whitehaven.

“I'm very grateful to Caprice for helping to keep Leanne's disappearance out there.

“A new witness contacted me with new information after reading about me trying to find Leanne. I will keep searching and researching for Leanne in 2024. She needs to be found. Her family and friends deserve closure.”

Anyone with information on Leanne’s whereabouts is encouraged to call police on 101.