Renewed appeal five years after Leanne Smith vanished from Whitehaven

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.

Leigh Smith, a Maryport resident who has led a number public searches for missing people, has now carried out ten searches for Leanne around the area where she lived.

He said: “I am still researching about her. I have spoken to 28 witnesses but there are still more I need to find.

“Leanne's mother Lizzy told me she wants her daughter found. She told me to keep searching and researching for Leanne. So I will, to the best of my ability.

“I strongly believe that police need to relook at Leanne's unsolved case. I would urge anyone who saw Leanne on the day she vanished to please come forward with any information. I have made a petition for police to re-examine Leanne's vanishing.

“I will keep searching Whitehaven. Someone must have seen Leanne the day she vanished in Whitehaven five years ago.”

A Cumbria Police spokesperson said: “In a case such as the one of Leanne Smith, where someone has been missing for a long period of time, their cases remain open and are reviewed.

“When we receive new information on a long-term missing person we will conduct further enquires on that piece of information.

“We would encourage anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Leanne, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to please get in touch on 101.”

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen said: “This weekend marked five years since Leanne Smith went missing from Whitehaven in September 2019. Long term missing person cases remain open and are regularly reviewed, and it is completely understandable that in such cases, questions are still raised.

“It’s really important that if anyone has got any information around the case, that they come forward and report it to the Police.”

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