FOUR months on from Mary Monkman's disappearance, her family are still calling for her safe return. 

49-year-old Mrs Monkman travelled to the Loch Doon area of Ayrshire on Friday, June 16 from her home in Kendal. 

Her red Nissan Juke was found parked on the west side of the loch shortly after 7.30pm later that evening. She has not been heard from since. 

Her husband Geoff put out an appeal on Facebook saying 'it's never too late to come home' on the four-month anniversary of her disappearance. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Despite extensive searches and enquiries, Mary Monkman has not yet been traced.

“Officers continue to appeal to anyone who has seen Mary since Friday, 16 June, or who has any information that may help us find her, to contact 101 with reference number 2348 of 17 June.”

Melanie Denyer, Mrs Monkman's sister-in-law said that the extent of the bracken growth around the loch over the summer has impeded the police search for her, with key pieces of evidence such as her rucksack possibly only metres away from the search team but impossible to find. 

The Westmorland Gazette: The rucksack Mary is believed to have had with herThe rucksack Mary is believed to have had with her (Image: Police Scotland)

She said: "It think it's possibly one of the most difficult things anyone of us have had to deal with. 

"There is a playbook for when somebody dies. The not knowing is loss without bereavement. 

"We just want her home. We love her, we miss her, we want her home. We are all so desperate to see her again. Just please come back." 

Ms Denyer praised Police Scotland for their work in trying to find her so far. 

Inspector William Deans said at the time of her disappearance: "For Mary not to be in contact with her family and friends is completely out of character. This, coupled with the length of time since she was last seen, makes us extremely concerned for her welfare.

"Despite the loch being in relatively rural surroundings, it is known to be frequented by locals and visitors.

“I’d ask anyone who may have seen Mary in the area on Friday June 16 or since this time, to report any sightings to us.

“We believe Mary travelled to Ayrshire via the M6 and then through Dumfries and Galloway. If you saw her or her vehicle during the afternoon/evening of 16 June, please get in touch with officers.”

Mrs Monkman is described as about 5ft 9in tall, with shoulder-length, dark purple hair.

She wears glasses and was last seen wearing a green and white floral top and cropped blue leggings. She is also believed to be in possession of a blue/green Deuter Step Out 12 rucksack and was possibly wearing black, lightweight, slip-on trainers.