Victoria Taylor: Five unanswered questions as search for missing bride-to-be continues

Victoria Taylor, 34, was last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, on Monday morning around 9am, before being captured on CCTV two hours later buying a soft drink at a local BP garage

The search for a missing mum who vanished five days ago continues - but several questions remain unanswered as police ramp-up efforts to find her.

Victoria Taylor, 34, was last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, on Monday morning around 9am, before being captured on CCTV two hours later buying a soft drink at a local BP garage. She has not contacted her family or friends since then, sparking a huge search in the local area.

The mum, who is believed to work as a carer, is described as being white and approximately 5ft six inches tall. She was last spotted wearing blue jeans, a black Adidas original puffer jacket with white stripes down the sleeves and a grey Jack Wills hooded jumper. Police yesterday released CCTV footage, taken at 11.35am on Monday at a BP garage on Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton shows the nurse inside.

Where was Victoria going?

Ms Taylor was seen at her home in Malton at 9am on Monday morning with her fiance Matthew and their two-year-old daughter while she was on the phone. Matthew and Victoria then left with their daughter to visit his parents.

But Matthew's sister, Heidi Baker, said Victoria then left his parents' house and did not return. A local lady saw her crossing the railway crossing near a Lidl store in Welham Road about 11.30 to 12pm, heading towards the River Derwent. A woman then saw her coming down the path leading to the river before she was seen by locals passing the Riverside Playground and walking along a thickly overgrown path next to the river between 11.30am and noon.

Why are police searching the area?

Police officers were pictured scouring a section of River Derwent in Malton, North Yorkshire, as they continued to search for Victoria this afternoon. Marine and Underwater Search Units took to the river's banks in kayaks whilst missing posters were put up around the market town. Police yesterday told the public they should expect to see an increased presence of officers in the town of Malton as they carry out searches of the River Derwent.

Inspector Leanne Anderson from North Yorkshire Police said: “There are a range of enquiries taking place to try and locate Victoria. This is still a missing person enquiry, and the focus of our activity is within the Malton / Norton area. Extensive searches will take place today and I would urge members of the public in the Malton / Norton areas to remain vigilant and report sightings or pass information to police immediately.”

Why were her belongings found discarded?

Victoria's belongings are believed to have been found near the banks of the River Derwent, which is currently being searched. While officers are yet to have found any trace of the missing mum, the intriguing clue emerged last night, suggesting Victoria was in the area.

The soft drinks bottles that Victoria bought at the BP garage were found by her family and further along the path, police found the green baseball cap she had been wearing at the garage. They also found a salmon pink Vans rucksack lying in the open.

Why was her social media still active?

Friends have claimed missing Victoria Taylor’s Instagram page was “active” in the hours after she vanished. More than 4,000 people have so far joined a Facebook page to help in the search, with several putting forward their own ideas. One suggested they had noticed the popular nurse’s social media page had been recently active.

There is currently no explanation as to why her Instagram account would have still been active. Friends have said Ms Taylor's family may have been using her Instagram profile, which led to the account showing as 'active' - but the missing mother's relatives have confirmed they were not using her accounts.

Could she have travelled outside of the Malton area?

So far there has been no evidence Victoria had left the area, with no evidence or signs that she boarded any buses or trains, including a review of footage at the local train and bus station. There has also been no activity on her cash card since she was seen buying the soft drinks at the BP garage where she was last seen.

Police say their search is being focused within the local area. Speaking on Tuesday, Inspector Leanne Anderson from North Yorkshire Police said: "There are a range of enquiries taking place to try and locate Victoria. This is still a missing person enquiry, and the focus of our activity is within the Malton/Norton area.

"Extensive searches will take place today and I would urge members of the public in the Malton / Norton areas to remain vigilant and report sightings or pass information to police immediately."