Missing Victoria Taylor's family 'sick and lost' as they issue warning to those helping search

Victoria's distressed fiancé, Matthew Williams, said missing mum Victoria was "dedicated to her job, dedicated to us, and we had just returned from a lovely holiday"

The worried family of missing Victoria Taylor have warned those helping to search for her about the “challenging” river conditions as they describe feeling ”sick, distraught and lost”.

Police on Friday released a statement from the mum’s loved ones, along with a new image of Victoria, 34 and her brother Joe Williams The statement was released after her pals took part in a sweep of the river path where she vanished. They were searching the area where some of her belongings were discovered ‘scattered’ around the river bank earlier in the week.

But her family later urged those helping to search for missing 'Vixx' not to go near the river as the "water is challenging". Victoria, a geriatric nurse in a care home, has now been missing for six days after she was last seen on CCTV near her home in Malton, North Yorkshire on Monday.

Police underwater divers and officers on kayaks have been scouring the swollen River Derwent for signs of the missing mum, who has a two-year-old daughter. Her sisters Emma Worden and Heidi Baker said in a statement: "We currently feel sick, distraught and lost following the disappearance of Vixx, but we are trying to focus on the children in the family to maintain a sense of routine at this difficult time.

"We would like to thank all the emergency services and volunteers who have assisted in the search for Vixx so far.” Victoria went missing from her home around 9.30am on Monday but was seen on CCTV a few hours later buying soft drinks from a petrol station in the town.

After she vanished the soft drinks bottles were discovered by her family in a clearing along the path. Police confirmed these had been bought on Victoria's card at the garage. Officers then found what is believed to be her green camouflage cap she’d been wearing on the CCTV footage. Officers also found her rucksack, a salmon pink Vans brand.

Her friends on Friday used large branches to comb through bracken for any more clues on Vicky’s disappearance as the search entered its fifth day. Another group had gone to a section of the river by a nearby golf course where the current flows to a shallow patch. One friend, who asked not to be named, said: “We just need as many people to see her face as possible and help us look for her.

“The current runs towards the golf club so they’re thinking something might hopefully turn up there.” Victoria’s relatives have previously raised concerns about the extent of the search being conducted by officers. Friends told the Mirror that dogs and helicopters have not been dispatched over the dense river path since Victoria went missing.

Victoria was engaged to Matthew Williams, 44, and the couple had just returned from a sunshine holiday in Majorca with their daughter. Speaking from their family home in Malton, holding onto their daughter, he said: "I hope she comes back safely. Obviously, this one is missing her mam.

"We are all hoping she comes back. She was dedicated to her job, dedicated to us, and we had just returned from a lovely holiday. It is just sad." Victoria’s close friend Charlotte Cundill said she is determined to find the mum. A Facebook group called 'The search for Victoria Taylor' has been set up by Charlotte and currently has over 4,500 members.

Victoria's friends and family, including Charlotte, have posted in the group that they "won't give up" on finding the mum, who is originally from Huddersfield, West Yorks. Huddersfield Town are to display her photograph this weekend.

Emma Haslegrave wrote on Facebook: "I don't think that anyone who knew Victoria will give up on her because my mum spent her final years at Rivermead Care Home where she worked. Victoria was a truly caring, compassionate and patient person. I know it was her job but I always got the impression that she genuinely cared.

"On the day that mum passed Victoria looked after not only mum but also my sister and I and we will never forget her kindness...I pray she is safe..."