Samantha Eastwood: Police investigating midwife's disappearance launch searches in rural area near Stoke

Missing midwife last seen leaving Royal Stoke University Hospital on morning of 27 July

CCTV footage of Samantha Eastwood (left) leaving the Royal Stoke University Hospital at 7.43am on 27 July (PA)

Police investigating the disappearance of midwife Samantha Eastwood are carrying out searches in a rural area of Staffordshire.

Specialist teams have cordoned off a section of land in Caverswall, six miles outside Stoke-on-Trent, and are combing the area in search of clues pertaining to Ms Eastwood’s whereabouts.

Detective Superintendent Simon Duffy said officers were “working round the clock” to locate Ms Eastwood, who was last seen leaving Royal Stoke University Hospital at 07:45am on Friday 27 July. The alarm was subsequently raised after the 28-year-old midwife failed to return for her night shift.

A 32-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was initially arrested but has since been released under investigation, Staffordshire Police said earlier this week.

In a statement released on Saturday morning, Det Supt Duffy said: “Today’s extensive searches are part of the ongoing investigation, which has officers and staff working round the clock in an effort to find anything which brings us closer to finding Samantha.

“I am calling on any member of the public with any information, however small and insignificant it may seem.

“Have you seen any unusual or suspicious activity, including parked vehicles in laybys in rural locations around the Stoke-on-Trent/North Staffordshire area?”

Ms Eastwood’s neighbours have already come forward to report hearing a scream in the vicinity of her house around 2pm on the day she went missing.

Specialist teams have cordoned off a section of land in Caverswall, six miles outside Stoke-on-Trent (PA)

Police also said they were seeking the midwife’s missing purse and said her car was found parked on the driveway at her house.

Detectives added that Ms Eastwood left her bank cards at home and was believed to have “no access to money”.

Ms Eastwood’s sister, Gemma Eastwood, made a tearful appeal for help in tracing her on Friday. She said: “We miss you very much, we need you home where you belong.

“If she’s out there, or anyone knows where she is, please get in touch.

“Get her home.”

It emerged this week that Ms Eastwood had been engaged to be married, but that the relationshi had been broken off earlier in the year.

Ms Eastwood is described as white, approximately 5ft 3in, of medium build, with shoulder-length ginger hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion with freckles.

She has worked as a midwife for six years, with chief nurse at the Royal Stoke, Liz Rix, describing her colleague as a “much-loved and valued” staff member.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.