Police divers join search for missing agoraphobic

Mandy Bishop, who suffers from agoraphobia which had prevented her from leaving the house she shares with her mother, Valerie, has been missing for a fortnight and had threatened to harm herself before she disappeared.

West Yorkshire Police's underwater search unit is helping the North Yorkshire force with the investigation, and yesterday carried out checks from a boat along the River Ouse.

The unit is due to return to York to carry out underwater searches today .

Miss Bishop, 34, had been the full-time carer for her mother, who is seriously ill with cancer, at the house they share overlooking York's medieval bar walls.

Forensic tests are being carried out on traces of blood which have been found at the terrace house, prompting fears Miss Bishop has followed through with her threats to self-harm.

Miss Bishop is white, 5ft and slim with shoulder-length dark-brown hair.

It is not known what she was wearing at the time she disappeared.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.