A MISSING 52-year-old woman was found “safe and well” this afternoon following a search operation involving a helicopter and rescue launches in Chepstow.

Gloucestershire Police appealed for help in locating Miranda Raine from Tutshill after an apparent last sighting of her at 5.30am this morning (Thursday, October 4) in the Wyebank Road area.

She was described as around 5ft 3ins tall and of a large build, and was wearing dark clothing with a checked poncho.

A police spokesman said this morning: “A search involving police officers, members of the Severn Area Rescue Service (SARA), the Coastguard and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) is under way.

Officers were stopping people in Chepstow and Tutshill this morning to ask if anyone had any information about the missing woman, and there were long delays.

All three SARA Beachley boats were launched to help with the search from 6.30am, but were stood down at 9.20am.

A spokesman said: "The SARA lLifeboat crew was called out at 6.30am, to support Chepstow Coastguard and Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search in the lower part of the River Wye.

"SARA Lifeboats 1 and 3 were launched and conducted searches; then as the tide fell SARA 1 was recovered at Beachley and the smaller SARA Rescue 5 was launched to conduct further searches. They were again joined by the Coastguard Helicopter from St Athan.

"With nothing having been found, the boats were stood down and recovered at 9.20am. This case remains open and our thoughts are with the friends and family of the lady concerned."