NORTHERN CONSTABULARY appealed for the public’s help yesterday in tracing a 36-year-old Montrose woman who has been missing since Saturday evening, when she was attending the Rockness music festival at Dores on the shores of Loch Ness, writes Ralph Barnett.

A police spokeswoman said they were “deeply concerned” for the safety of Lesley Smith, who failed to meet friends she travelled to the festival with.

Lesley was last seen at the festival at 8pm on Saturday and, since then, has not been in contact with friends or family.

The police spokeswoman said her mother, in particular, was very worried about her daughter.

Lesley was one of a group of six who travelled to Inverness and were booked into the city’s Travelodge—their intention being to camp out at the festival site on the Saturday night.

Having failed to meet friends as arranged, however, Lesley then failed to return to her tent and did not return to the hotel.

The spokeswoman said, “She had arranged to meet fellow revellers at the end of the night but did not show up.

“She had also left personal belongings at the campsite, as well as at the hotel, including her mobile phone.

“As a result it has been impos- sible to make contact with her.

“Her friends had hoped she had met with others and would contact them or return to the hotel. She has done neither and the police are becoming increasingly concerned about her whereabouts,” she said.

Lesley is described as being 5ft 3in tall, of slim build and with a pale complexion.

She has brown eyes and black shoulder-length hair and, when last seen, was wearing a grey vest top with a denim waistjacket, a red and yellow floral skirt and grey leggings.

She was also wearing brown and grey baseball boots and a black bracelet.

Anyone with information about Lesley’s movements since Saturday evening or her current whereabouts should contact police on 08456 033388.

It is understood that officers from Inverness have contacted their Tayside Police counterparts with a view to seeking their assist- ance in the investigation into Lesley’s disappearance.