Missing Gaynor Lord's family slam internet ghouls for speculating on the 55-year-old's disappearance as police release CCTV of her smiling as she leaves work

The family of missing Gaynor Lord today criticised internet ghouls who have been speculating about what happened to her.

Outlandish theories on social media such as TikTok include a serial killer on the loose who murdered Nicola Bulley earlier this year before striking in Norwich, police 'covering up' the truth, and a rapist attacking the mother-of-three.

A family member of Ms Lord's, who asked not to be named, told the Mail: 'There's been lots of things being said, like ''Has she run away with anybody?'' and things like that.

'It's not very helpful. It's hard enough as it is.'

The investigation into Mrs Bulley's disappearance in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, in January was marred by conspiracy theorists and armchair detectives opining about what happened.

Her family criticised the 'wildly inaccurate speculation' online over her death after an inquest found no evidence of third-party involvement.

Mrs Bulley's body was found in the River Wyre after a three-week search and a coroner concluded in June she had died from accidental drowning.

Online claims about the disappearance of Ms Lord, 55, include: 'Police covering up advancing serial killer way too similar to the nb [Nicola Bulley] case… 4hrs away from nb case.'

Another said: 'It's the serial killer they are trying to hide it from us.'

Among comments questioning police integrity was 'Don't believe a word they say after Nicola Bulley' and 'This is starting to sound a familiar story and it's being brushed under the carpet'.

Vloggers also posted videos of themselves outlining the case, often riddled with errors, with other unsubstantiated claims.

One speculated: 'Just been doing a bit of digging into Wensum Park. I found some reports that there have been issues of rape… happening in this park over a period of time. Some went back to 2012. So this is a concern.'

Norfolk Police have repeatedly stated they are not aware of any 'third party' involvement in Ms Lord's disappearance.

Norwich City Labour councillor Keith Driver said: 'I think we should let the police get on with their job and find out what happened to her as soon as possible.

'The police I know – none of them would sweep anything under the carpet. They're doing a really good job and they've got my support.'

Responding to concerns witnesses might be put off from contacting the police, he added: 'If anyone has got any information at all they should come forward.'

Labour colleague Vaughan Thomas added: 'Anyone with information or knowledge would need to tell the police and social media is not helping. I would urge people to ignore social media.'

Norfolk Police declined to comment.

Ms Lord's half-brother Allan Weston, 43, who lives in Blackpool, Lancashire, said: 'We are all very worried. It is out of character and we just want her home.' 

Ms Lord was seen leaving a city centre department store in Norwich where she worked at 2.45pm on Friday but never made it home.

A huge search has been underway, with police divers called in after her coat was found in a river in the nearby Wensum Park. 

Her clothes, two rings, mobile phone and glasses were also discovered nearby at around 8.10pm on the night she went missing.

Images and footage released by Norwich Police this afternoon show the missing mother smiling as she left her place of work, before she was spotted on camera running down a street in the city centre with her coat in hand.

It comes as specialist deep water police divers from neighbouring Lincolnshire constabulary were pictured searching Wensum Park this afternoon. 

The teams were equipped with enhanced sonar equipment to search the water.  

Speaking of the CCTV, Norwich Policing Commander, Superintendent Wes Hornigold, said: 'Today we are releasing the footage of Gaynor's last known steps on Friday afternoon before she went missing.

'We hope this will help to jog the memory of anyone who may have seen her in the city that afternoon or who may have footage of her journey.

'We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who may have seen Gaynor in the cathedral grounds which she enters at 2.50pm and leaves at 3.23pm.

'It's not clear where she goes inside the cathedral grounds during this time so we're keen to hear from anyone who may have seen her there.

'We are continuing our extensive searches but would appeal to the public to come forward with any information which may help to find Gaynor.

'In the footage you can clearly see what she was wearing when she went missing.

'This is a particularly stressful time for her family and specialist officers continue to provide support.'

It comes after a witness said she saw a woman matching Ms Lord's description in Wensum Park - where her clothes were later found - at around 4pm.

Rosie Richards, who lives locally, said: 'It's really upsetting... I'm just thinking of her friends and family, because she is a sort of similar age to my mum and that would be awful to be going through what they are going through right now.'

Police say the 'most likely scenario' is that she entered the water.

The case has similarities to that of Nicola Bulley, who sparked a high-profile search earlier this year when she dropped off her two daughters at school in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire.

Her body was found in the River Wyre on February 19, about a mile from where she vanished while walking her dog on January 27. 

Her phone and the dog's harness were discovered nearby. An inquest in June concluded she accidentally drowned.

Yesterday, Ms Lord's daughters both reposted several versions of Norfolk Police appeals for information about their mother's disappearance on Facebook.

Alexandra Lord, 22, wrote above one of them: 'Please share, if anyone knows anything please do contact the police! We want her home!'

Next to another message she wrote: 'Anything you may know small or large please contact the police!' Elder sister Charlotte, 24, a fashion entrepreneur, also reposted the police appeals on Facebook.

Wensum Park has been closed to the public since Saturday while specialist teams search on land and in the water.

The huge police search operation in the centre of Norwich, involves 10 vehicles, a police drone and two search and rescue RIBS along the River Wensum.

She was last seen heading toward the Anglican Cathedral in the centre of Norwich on Friday before she disappeared.

Later the same day a member of the public discovered her belongings in the city's Wensum Park, around a mile away from work. She was reported missing after failing to return home.

Norwich Constabulary declared her missing after they identified the items and learned she'd failed to return home from work that evening.

A police spokeswoman added: 'We won't be drawn on her state of mind. We are still trying to establish the facts. But it was completely out of character.'

Norwich policing commander Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'Gaynor left work early and didn't take her normal route home. We haven't been able to establish why she left early and her disappearance is out of character, so we are naturally concerned for her welfare.

'There's no evidence that Gaynor has come to harm and, while we have a number of enquiries ongoing, given where her clothing was found and other items, there is a real possibility she has entered the water.'

Police are trawling through CCTV to try and trace Ms Lord's movements during a five-hour window before she was officially declared missing by police late on Friday evening.

Mr Hornigold, who said the force was seeking assistance from other constabularies with diving expertise, added: 'This is clearly a distressing time for her family. We have specialist officers supporting them and continue to keep them updated on our ongoing work.'

Police revealed that she'd left her work as a retail assistant for spirits distiller Bullard Gin, based at the city's Jarrold Department Store, at 2.45pm, before her shift was due to end at 4pm.

Police divers, assisted by fire crews and the coastguard, scoured the nearby River Wensum yesterday using sonar equipment and said they have to be 'open to the possibility that Gaynor has entered the water'.

Officers have also used drones and foot searches to search for further clues and said they do not suspect third party involvement.

A spokesperson for the force said the park would remain closed as they hunt for further information about Gaynor's whereabouts.

Ms Lord, who has blonde shoulder-length hair in a bob, is described as white and 5ft 6 inches.

Wensum Park was opened in 1925 and has a children's paddling pool, a playground and a pavilion.

A labyrinth was installed in the centre as part of the city's millennium celebrations.

Anyone with information or who knows of her whereabouts should contact Norfolk Police on 101 quoting incident number 427 of December 8, 2023.