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Police said Shona Campbell was visiting the area when she got into difficulties in mud on the Solway estuary

Police Scotland A woman with long hair and dark glasses in a blue denim shirt with a blue T-shirt underneath — Police said Shona Campbell was visiting the area when she got into difficulties in mud on the Solway estuary

A major search operation is under way for a woman who went for a walk on the Solway estuary but phoned to say she was stuck in the mud.

Shona Campbell, 74, was staying at the Moss-Side caravan park in Cummertrees but has not been seen since the alarm was raised at about 17:00 on Monday.

It is understood she made the call to report getting into difficulties herself.

Police said “extensive searches” were being carried out involving specialist resources and they were working with other emergency services.

Emergency services were called out at about 17:00 on Monday

Yellow and blue police van parked on a dirt track behind cars with a hedge on the left. The sky is orange — Emergency services were called out at about 17:00 on Monday

Ms Campbell is believed to have been wearing jeans, a brown wax jacket and wellington boots.

Temperatures overnight in the area were sub-zero.

A number of specialist teams are involved in the search

Two people in fluorescent yellow jackets in the distance looking among long grass. There are some trees and green caravans in the far distance — A number of specialist teams are involved in the search

Insp Amy Ritchie said: “Every effort is being made to find Shona and her family are being supported by officers at this difficult time.

“From our inquiries so far, we know Shona left the caravan park to go for a walk before getting into difficulty and has not returned.

“Local officers and search advisers are being assisted by specialist resources.”

She appealed to anyone with information “no matter how small” to get in touch.

The Solway has a number of mudflats which are considered to be dangerous, with many areas vulnerable to quicksand

Solway estuary with beach/mudlats and an orange sky with grass in the foreground — The Solway has a number of mudflats which are considered to be dangerous, with many areas vulnerable to quicksand

An HM Coastguard spokesman said its search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was called out at about 17:15 on Monday following a report of a woman stuck in mud by the mouth of the River Nith.

He added that Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent from Annan, Burgh-by-Sands and Portling, as well as the Nith Inshore Rescue lifeboat.

The area off the south of Scotland coast is considered dangerous due to some of the fastest tidal movements in Europe.

Large areas of mudflats surround the estuaries of the River Nith and River Annan, with many areas vulnerable to quicksand.

A pilot scheme is seeing if satellite imagery could help rescuers navigate the waters more quickly to get to people who find themselves in difficulties.

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