The son of a pensioner who went missing "without any explanation" said the family refuses to give up hope that she will be found safe and well.
Irene McCawley, 77, was last seen at around 9am on Wednesday when she left her home in the Boghall area of Bathgate, West Lothian, to go to the butcher's shop nearby.
She did not arrive and has not been seen or heard from since.
In a statement released on behalf of her family, her son James, 41, said: "As a family, we are supporting each other through this extremely difficult time, and we are very grateful for all the support we have had from the local community.
"For mum to have gone missing without any explanation is very worrying, but we refuse to give up hope that she will be found safe and well.
"On behalf of our family, I am appealing to anyone who thinks they have seen or heard from mum since she went missing to contact police right away."
Specialist search teams have been carrying out searches in Bathgate and the surrounding countryside, Lothian and Borders Police said.
Mrs McCawley is described as white, 5ft 5ins, of stocky build with short white hair. It is believed that she was wearing a blue knee-length jacket and carrying a blue umbrella.
Inspector Neill Whiteside said: "Mrs McCawley's disappearance is very much out of character, and we are anxious to trace her as soon as possible."
