Search for missing N.S. woman, 73, continues

Search teams are continuing to scour the New Glasgow, N.S., area for a73-year-old woman who wentfor a walk at midday on Monday and did not return.

Adair Townsend was seen walking from her homeon Brookside Avenue in New Glasgow at 12 p.m. on Monday, according to anemergency alert.

"We've received numerous tips," Const. Ken Macdonald, of the New Glasgow Regional Police, told CBC News in an interview on Wednesday.

Townsend has amild case of Alzheimer's and takes regular walks on her own, the police force said in a news release.

Witnesses spotted her near the Mount William Road area off Highway 106 on Monday between 3:30 p.m. and6 p.m., and she was also seen nearTrenton Park at 8:30 p.m., the release said.

Investigators said about 70 people areinvolved in the search on Wednesday, including ground search and rescue teams and a helicopter from the Department of Natural Resources.

"We called numerous search and rescue teams from throughout the province. We alsoincluded our resources, fire departments that have boat capabilities for searching," Macdonald said.

A command centre has been set up at Trenton Park. It's one of the areas where Townsend was reportedly spotted. That's seven kilometres from where she was seen the day she went missing.

On Thursday, police said in a news release that Townsend was last seen at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday around Mount William, near theTrenton Connector and exit 1A ofHighway 106.

The search wasfocused in that area, with ground searchers and police dog teams scouring by land and the helicopter by air.

Police are asking for residents in the areas she was last spotted to check their backyards and sheds, as well as their security camera footage.

Macdonald said emergency alerts and media coverage are key to the search because information provided by members of the public in the area is "crucial" to locating her.

Townsend's family is "concerned and want to know if she is safe," the police force said in a Facebook post.

Townsend is described as five foot two inches tall with grey, medium-length hair. She was wearing a grey-blue coat, black Doc Marten boots and glasses.

The search is expected to continue until nightfall, with a limited number of personnelcontinuing overnight.

Anyone with information on Townsend's whereabouts is asked to contact New Glasgow Regional Police at 902-752-1941.