Family's joy as missing gran returns

Relatives of Anne Rooney, 63, were frantic with worry when she went missing from her home in East Kilbride just hours before Christmas.

Fears grew for her safety, as she suffers from depression. Calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

Distraught relatives of the gran-of-two pleaded for information about her whereabouts in the Evening Times over the festive season.

Her husband Edward, 64, urged his wife to get in touch to let her family know she was OK.

Happily, his prayers were answered on Hogmanay when Anne suddenly walked in through the front door of their home in Stewartfield.

Her safe return got the New Year off to a fantastic start for the Rooneys, who have three of a family - Paul, 37, Elaine, 33, and Alison, 40.

Alison - who was travelling to Scotland for Christmas from her home in Newcastle when she heard her mum had gone missing - spoke of the family's joy at her return.

She said: "The whole family is just so relieved. We were at home on Sunday night and I heard the door go. At first I thought it was my sister, but I looked out of the window and there was no car.

"The next thing I knew there was mum standing in the hall. We are so glad she's safe and well."

Anne made her way home on Sunday evening, but it's not clear where she had been staying, although it's thought to have been in the Glasgow area.

Alison added: "We will just take it a day at a time.

"Everyone has been so supportive, from the police to the missing persons helpline, and we are just so grateful to have her home."

Retired electrician Edward described his panic when he realised Anne was missing on Christmas Eve.

He said: "She got up around 7.15am on Christmas Eve and came back to bed for about 10 minutes and got up again.

"I thought she was just going downstairs for a cup of tea.

"When I got up I walked into the lounge, I just knew she had gone. Her coat was gone.

"I jumped in the car and drove round all the bus stops and bus station, but there was no sign of her."