THE oldest friend of a 41-year-old missing mother has appealed for her to call home.

Hospital receptionist Emma Palmer was last seen by her family more than three weeks ago.

Friend of 31 years Imogen Banks, also 41, from Bank in the New Forest, was at Emma's home in Sandbanks Road, Lower Parkstone, on Monday.

Imogen, who has known Emma since they were at school together in West Sussex, said: "She has been depressed recently. She had a lot of worries and wasn't very happy.

"But it has been a shock to everyone she disappeared. The longer it goes on, the more mysterious it becomes."

She added: "We are worried she may be afraid to make contact because she thinks there will be recrimination or anger.

"We want to appeal to her that is not the case. Her family want to know she is okay and will help her, in her own time, on her own terms."

Emma suffered breast cancer at the start of last year and was being treated for depression.

She disappeared from her home at 8am on Saturday September 10.

Shortly afterwards that morning she abandoned her red Mini Cooper in a layby on the A351 at Holton Heath near Wareham.

She did not take her medication for depression and left her purse and credit cards in the car, although she took a handbag and mobile phone.

Imogen said: "Emma is very much a people person. The life and soul of the party. She's not the sort of person to be alone.

"There is a possibility she is with someone who could be looking after her."

Police are now investigating a new possible sighting of Emma in Corfe Mullen, at the junction of Springdale Road and Wareham Road, at midday on Friday.

A woman was seen parking and getting out of a dark green Citroen hatchback car, then walking towards a horse tack shop.

On seeing a poster about missing Emma Palmer, the woman turned round, put her hand over her mouth, went back to the car and drove off.

Emma is white, 5ft 6ins, with blonde highlighted hair. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing oval gold-trimmed glasses, a short-sleeved pink Fat Face top, matching three-quarter length pink trousers and Reef flipflops.

Anyone with information about Emma should call Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or the National Missing Persons Helpline on 0500 700700.

First published: October 3