Nearly one year has passed since Leanne Smith was seen for the last time.

Family, friends, neighbours and even strangers have continuously searched for Ms Smith, formerly Gourley, organising coastline hunts and looking for her face in crowded streets to find her.

But with leads dried up and the trail cold, the Whitehaven woman’s brother, Stuart Gourley, fears the family will be forced to suffer a first anniversary of her disappearance – and is terrified that the worst has happened.

“Out of all my family and people we know, I think it’s just me who hasn’t given up hope yet,” he said.

“My parents are starting to come to terms with her being gone now, and accepting that she might have taken her own life, and there might not ever be anymore news.”

Ms Smith’s devastated brother, who was forced to get married before Christmas without his sister by his side, added that the family recently celebrated their father’s 70th birthday – another event clouded without her there.

Mr Gourley said: “I travelled down to Derbyshire for my dad’s birthday, and everybody was talking about her and worrying about her.

“We just want to know she’s safe – even a text or a call, anything, would put us at ease.

“We’re all just hanging about now, and we don’t know whether she’s alive or dead.

“We want to believe there’s still a chance she could walk through the door, but it’s just getting harder and harder.”

Ms Smith, who was 39 years old when first reported missing, was last seen leaving her home in Whitehaven at about 6pm on September 15 of last year.

She was said to be wearing a blue coat and carrying a handbag, with black shoulder-length hair in a ponytail.

Mr Gourley appealed to the public, both in Cumbria and across the UK, saying: “Please keep the memory of her going.

“If you see her, or hear about anyone seeing her, please get in touch with us – even if it’s just a message to let us know she’s okay.

“We just want to know she’s safe.”

If you have any information on Ms Smith’s whereabouts, think you may have seen her, or have any details that could help officers find her, call on 101.

Ms Smith is also urged to call 101 if she sees this appeal.