TWO ponds in Burghfield are being searched as part of the investigation into a missing woman.

Catherine Nee vanished 12 years ago and her family reported the 44-year-old missing in 2012 - prompting a police investigation.

Detectives acting upon a tip off will spend two days dredging two ponds in woodland near Burghfield for any “items of interest” that could help find Catherine.

When she was last seen by her family Catherine, also known as Kathy, was living in Ilfracombe, Devon, but she is originally from Reading and still has friends and family here.

Detective Inspector Kev Mahon, from Major Crime, said divers will spend today and Thursday searching the two ponds, but stressed they do not know what they will find.

He added: “Catherine became estranged from her family 14 years ago and in that time they have made attempts to try and find her to no avail and have constantly wondered what happened to her.

"They turned to Thames Valley Police for our assistance in 2012 to try and trace her and our investigation has led us to this point.

“The hope is that we will discover items relating to Catherine’s disappearance.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman refused to speculate whether they were looking for a body and stressed it is being classed a missing person investigation unless new information comes to light.

They added: “I would not want to start speculating, but they have information and have gone out to search.”