AN EXTENSIVE search of the cliffs and coastline to the north-east of Arbroath was carried out yesterday afternoon after concerns were raised for the safety of a local woman who was considered to be in a distressed state of mind.

The all-weather and inshore lifeboats from the Arbroath RNLI station were launched shortly before 1.30pm and carried out several sweeps of the foreshore and the base of the cliffs between Whiting Ness and Auchmithie.

The inshore lifeboat Duncan Ferguson also searched the series of otherwise inaccessible sea caves and inlets but no trace of the woman was found.

Tayside Police officers and members of the local coastguard unit undertook a search of the cliff-top path and the operation was co-ordinated by the Forth Maritime and Coastguard Agency centre at Crail.

The search was terminated after about two hours when the woman was traced safe and well.