Helen Bailey: Concerns grow for missing children's author

Helen Bailey was last seen on Monday 11 April while walking her dog near her home in Hertfordshire

Helen Bailey, 51, is believed to have gone missing with her dog, a miniature Dachscund (Hertfordshire Police)

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of children’s author Helen Bailey who has been missing for more than a week.

Ms Bailey, 51, was last seen on 11 April near her home in Royston, Hertfordshire. She is described as slim, having long black hair and was walking her pet miniature dachshund when she was last seen.

Police have appealed for help in locating the author and have urged anyone with any information on her whereabouts to urgently contact them.

Ms Bailey has written a number of popular books aimed at adolescents starring the character Electra Brown. She also penned the popular blog Planet Grief documenting how she mourned her husband after he drowned while swimming in the sea on holiday in Barbados in 2011.

The blog was published as a book in October under the title ‘When Bad Things Happen In Good Bikinis’ which took its name from her striking description of her husband’s death: “On the 27^th February 2011, whilst on holiday in Barbados, my husband got off his sun lounger, adjusted his glasses and headed into the sea for a swim. Moments later I heard him call for help, and watched helplessly from the beach as he was pulled out to sea by a rip tide. He drowned.

“Bizarrely, after he died, almost the first thing I said was, ‘But I’m wearing a bikini! As if bad things can’t happen when you’re wearing a good bikini. But they can and it did. At the age of 46, I crash-landed on Planet Grief, a place where nothing, not even my own reflection in the mirror felt familiar.”

In a statement, Hachette Children’s Group which is part of the group which publishes Bailey’s writing, said: “Along with Helen’s friends and family we anxiously await the news of her safe return.”

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: “Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a woman who has gone missing from Royston. Helen Bailey, aged 51, was last seen around 2:45pm on Monday, April 11. Concerns are growing for her welfare and police are urging Helen to make contact to let them know she is safe and well.”

Anyone with any information relating to Ms Bailey’s whereabouts is asked to call the police non-emergency number 101.