Felixstowe in shock as search for Louise Billingham goes on

The Felixstowe community has been left in shock and praying a missing 50-year-old woman is found safe and well as a major search operation takes place to try and find her.

Police, the Coastguard and vessels from the RNLI were trying to locate Louise Billingham at Felixstowe on Wednesday after she was reported missing at 7.20am.

Officers cordoned off a section of the promenade and gardens between the Spa Pavilion theatre and The Hut day centre as Coastguard helicopters buzzed overhead and RNLI boats searched along the near shoreline.

UPDATE: Louise Billingham found safe

The Coastguard was called to Felixstowe seafront (Image: Charlotte Bond)

READ MORE: Updates as woman reported missing off coast of Felixstowe

Volunteers from the Coastguard could be seen conducting searches within the cordon.

Felixstowe Mayor Seamus Bennett said: "I am very concerned and I very much hope that this person is found safe and well and I hope that the emergency services can bring a good outcome to this."

RNLI vessels searched the near shoreline at Felixstowe as they tried to locate missing Louise Billingham (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Susan Lindsey, shift leader at The Alex Café Bar and Brasserie on the seafront, said many customers had spoken of their shock and concern after seeing the cordon on the promenade.

Police at the scene (Image: Charlotte Bond)

She said: "The reaction has been one of concern really. Everyone who has been in this morning has said they hope she is found, as you would expect."

And Ryan Sanders, assistant manager at the Spa Pavilion, said: "I would say the reaction has been one of shock. It is a rare occasion that something like this happens."

Louise Billingham, from Felixstowe (Image: Suffolk police)

Ms Billingham, who is about 5ft 9ins tall, is a regular at bars along Felixstowe seafront, including Skye Lounge and is known to visit The Grand, on Bent Hill every Thursday for karaoke night.

Lorraine Woodland, owner of The Grand, said she stands at the bar and writes out "a hundred" song request slips.

RNLI boats could be seen offshore at Felixstowe while looking for Louise Billingham (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Describing her as "a nice lady", she said: "Louise gets on with everybody and has a laugh with everybody."

The missing woman is described as white, with short, spiky, dark brown hair and she wears glasses.

She also uses a mobility scooter although she is able to walk short distances with the aid of a crutch.

Anyone who believes they have seen Ms Billingham, or who has any information regarding her whereabouts, is asked to contact Suffolk police, quoting CAD 52 of August 2.