Authorities are "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of an elderly woman missing from Horley since Saturday (July 3). 

Surrey Search and Rescue and Surrey Police said they were keeping an "open mind" about 72-year-old Maria from Horley as they appealed to the public for help in their search for her. 

The emergency services however said they were focusing their efforts in Horley around the River Mole as they deployed specialist equipment including drones to locate Maria, who was described as "vulnerable" by police. 

"Sadly we are still committed in the search for Maria in #Horley and continue to ask the public for their help.

"If you have any information and haven't yet come forward please contact @SurreyPolice on social media or calling 999," a Tweet posted earlier today (Monday, July 5) from Surrey Search and Rescue read. 

Police in the area meanwhile issued an image and accompanying description of Maria in the hopes of sparking public assistance in the search. 

Maria, they said, had last been seen in the Longbridge Road area and is described as "5ft 3 tall and of average build with black-grey hair", adding: 

"She was last seen wearing a peach coloured, short-sleeved T-shirt, and dark shorts which may have a leopard print design. Maria was also last seen wearing pale pink slip on slippers." 

East Surrey Inspector Simon McCarthy thanked those who had already offered their help in the search for Maria, adding that anyone who had not yet contributed any information that might should do so now "as a matter of urgency": 

"We would like to thank all the members of the public who have already come forward with information and offers to help with the search," he said.  

"Although we really appreciate people offering to help, our searches are carried out in a coordinated way and led by specially trained search officers. 

"We are continuing to do all we can to find Maria and would urge anyone who has not already done so to come forward with any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, as a matter of urgency," the inspector added. 

Click here to view the full police appeal. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact police online or by calling 101 and quoting PR/P21142370.