
Missing mother-of-three who vanished after running to a garage at 3.50am bought a bottle of wine and milk before disappearing - as police divers search nearby lake for clues
Rachel Booth, 38, was reported missing on Saturday July 19 after she was last seen by her family in the village of Barnton in Northwich, Cheshire.
Cheshire Constabulary has released CCTV of her last sighting which shows her walking around the Sandiway Garage, along the A556 in Northwich, in exercise gear at 3.50am on Saturday.
Rachel was seen wearing black leggings, a black vest and trainers at the time she vanished, with a phone visible on her outer thigh, suggesting she was out on a run.
Specially-trained search and rescue teams today scoured Delamere Lake Sailing & Holiday Park and Wild Shore water sports centre, Northwich, Cheshire - around 1.7miles from her last known sighting - in a frantic bid to find Rachel.
Police believe she may have travelled to the village of Oakmere, near Delamere Forest, while underwater search teams have also been deployed to the sailing lake.
Isaac Carolan, 19, who works at the Sandiway Garage, has revealed Rachel's final purchase before she vanished.
He told The Sun: 'I spoke to my colleague who had served her on Saturday morning. She bought milk and wine and jogged from 45 minutes away.'
He added: 'But it didn't seem weird, she didn't seem disturbed or flustered.'
Another shopkeeper, at a Premier store in Barnton, where Rachel lives, described her as 'a lovely clever lady' who always comes in for parcels. They said she is 'very active and very nice', adding: 'We all like her.'
Under the police appeal, two friends have claimed they may have spotted Rachel - described as being 5ft 9in tall, of a slim build and with blonde hair - attempting to hitchhike hours after her last sighting.
They said: 'It does look like the same lady that was hitching a lift except the lady we seen [sic] obviously had the yellow jacket/cardigan on.'
The potential witness said this was around the Church Minshull area - some eight miles from the petrol station - between 12.30pm and 1.15pm on Saturday, hours after her last official sighting.
A separate witness also claimed they may have seen her passing a farm shop at Minshull and 'walking towards Crewe'.
Nearby water park Wild Shore Delamere has also been shut down temporarily. The company said it has closed due to 'ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area', but insists the incident is 'unrelated' to them.
Rachel's mother, Chrissie Widdowson, shared the police's appeal to find her daughter, along with friends and members of the public.
One man who 'grew up around the corner' from her posted: 'She is honestly one of the nicest people you could meet.'
Another described her as a mother-of-three with 'three gorgeous boys and a 'loving husband'.
A Cheshire beauty salon also posted photos of Rachel, saying she is a 'client' of theirs.
Liz Almond Aesthetics, an aesthetics practitioner at Beyond Beauty Group in Nantwich, said: 'This lady is a client of ours. Share as much as you can and get her home safe.'
Inspector James Wilson, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: 'We are currently following a number of enquiries to trace Rachel and we are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.
'As part of our investigation, our officers and partner agencies, including the Underwater Search Team and Cheshire Search and Rescue, are conducting enquiries in the Oakmere and surrounding areas where it is believed Rachel travelled to, and we would like to thank local businesses for their patience and understanding while these are currently ongoing.
'Investigators are following all lines of enquiry and anyone who has seen Rachel since she was reported missing is asked to contact us. The same goes for anyone who has any information on her whereabouts.
'We would also like to appeal directly to Rachel to get in touch to let us know you are OK.
'You can report information to Cheshire Police via 101 or through www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us quoting IML-2136439.'
Wild Shore Delamere said: 'Due to ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area, Wildshore Delamere will remain closed tomorrow, Sunday, July 20th.
'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
'The incident is unrelated to Wild Shore - however, we wish to help as much as possible - so we will be closing the site until further notice.
'If your booking is affected by this closure, please contact our customer services team.
'We'll be happy to arrange a refund or reschedule your session for a later date. Thank you for your understanding.'
In a previous post, the water park said 'police have requested that we close this site to aid their investigation'.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Ex-Arsenal star sentenced last month for part in £600k drug smuggling plot signs for new team
A former Arsenal academy star has already been picked up by a new team - just a month after he was handed a four-year prison sentence for his role in a drug smuggle plot. The player came through the ranks at the north London club, before going on loan at a number of Football League sides such as Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers, and Cardiff before leaving the Gunners. He had stints at a number of clubs in England, Scotland and even India and Thailand, before joining Greenock Morton, where he was later sacked after his arrest back in September last year. The player in question, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, had been arrested after an estimated £600,000 worth of cannabis was seized while being brought through Stansted Airport by two women, one of whom was his girlfriend. Though Emmanuel-Thomas initially claimed to be innocent, he eventually changed his plea to guilty at a hearing in May at Chelmsford Crown Court. He then received a four-year prison sentence, but was released on parole having already served 10 months at HMP Chelmsford, and he has now already found himself a new club. Emmanuel-Thomas has been snapped up by National League South side AFC Totton, and the 34-year-old's playing career is now set to resume. 'We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club,' Totton revealed in a statement. 'Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast!' During the case, the prosecutor - David Josse KC - told the court that the interception of the two women carrying the drugs had taken place at the airport. He added that it the became 'apparent' that Emmanuel-Thomas has been involved in 'their recruitment' to travel to Thailand. Judge Alexander Mills said: 'It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer. 'You will be known as a criminal. A professional footballer who threw it all away.' Emmanuel-Thomas' lawyer Alex rose, said: 'The financial gain in this case for Mr Emmanuel-Thomas was £5,000.' He added that the former Arsenal academy star, who played five times for the first team, had made a 'catastrophic error of judgement', following a period of 'significant financial hard times' that had led him to 'succumbing to temptation'. Emmanuel-Thomas wrote in a letter read out in the court: 'This past year has been the most harmful and eye-opening of my life. At times it has been unbearable.' He also noted that he 'completely regrets but takes full responsibility for' his actions.


The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
False online rumours spark protests outside Canary Wharf hotel earmarked for migrants
Protesters surrounded an empty hotel in London's finance district after false rumours online suggested it was being used for migrants from another hotel, where riots have broken out. The Home Office has earmarked more than 400 beds at the Britannia Hotel in the Canary Wharf, which it says it will use to house migrants at a cost of £81 per night per person. Protesters gathered at the site on Tuesday after social media posts claimed migrants were being moved there from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which has been the scene of violent protests over the past few days. So far, 10 people have been arrested in connection with that disorder, which was sparked when an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault this month. Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist, is among those who claimed online that migrants were being transferred to the London hotel from Epping. The rumours sparked protests and counter-protests, with police drafted to the scene on Tuesday, despite the hotel currently sitting empty. Demonstrators had also seized on online claims that migrants were being housed at £400 a night, when the rooms infact cost £81 per night and the government will not be charged until migrants move in. 'Asylum seekers are not being removed from The Bell Hotel in Epping,' a Home Office spokesman said. Reform MP Lee Anderson was accused of further stoking division by attending the protest outside the Canary Wharf hotel and warning of 'an influx of illegal migrants'. 'What are we playing at?' he asked on social media. He posted a clip in which he said he is 'absolutely furious' and that families across the UK would not be able to afford a night's stay in the hotel. Care4Calais head of advocacy Charlotte Khan hit out at Mr Anderson for his video. She said: 'The truth is, MPs should be more responsible than to sow division and hatred in our communities.' She added: 'MPs... who spread misinformation and hate that dehumanises refugees should be held accountable for their role in encouraging violence and racism on our streets.' Nathan Phillips, head of campaigns at Asylum Matters, hit out at the demonstrations which he said had 'morphed into yet more racist violence'. 'In that context, it's clear how disgracefully dangerous and utterly irresponsible it is for an MP to use his platform to identify a site where people are about to be housed and encourage his followers to 'protest' against it. 'It's appalling that there's no accountability for an elected official who actively encourages the exact same sort of 'protests' that have led to violence and arrests in Epping this week.' In Essex, local Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson warned that the riots were a 'crisis that has reached boiling point'. Essex Police have made 10 arrests, which saw more than 500 gather outside the hotel, with rioters attacking police vans and injuring a police officer. On Sunday night, two security guards working at the Bell Hotel were also attacked at a bus stop, and are recovering in hospital. Giving an update to the media in Chelmsford on Wednesday, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: "I want to thank the people of Epping, I want to thank the people of Essex. "I also want to thank all those who have turned up to protest and express their views peacefully and lawfully, because there have been many of those. "What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence, who have attacked people who work at the hotel, who have attacked officers, who have damaged property and who have caused fear and disruption to the people of Epping. "That is not tolerable, it will not be tolerated, and to that end, we have made 10 arrests." He appealed to the people of Essex to 'help us to do our job and make sure everyone can express their rights and their views safely and peacefully'. The latest demonstrations come a day after Angela Rayner issued an ultimatum to Sir Keir Starmer, warning that the UK faces a repeat of last year's summer riots unless 'the government shows it can address people's concerns'. The deputy prime minister said economic insecurity, immigration, the increasing time people spend online, and declining trust in institutions were having a 'profound impact on society'. And, amid fears this summer could see riots similar to those in the wake of the Southport murders last year, Ms Rayner said it is urgent Sir Keir delivers tangible improvements to living standards. Of the 18 places hit with the worst rioting last summer, Ms Rayner noted that 17 are among the country's most deprived areas. Michael Gove on Wednesday branded the comments about a repeat of last summer's violence 'a big mistake' which could 'tacitly encourage' fresh riots. The Tory ex-minister said she was right to acknowledge concern across the country about immigration and living standards and encourage the government to prove it can deliver. But Mr Gove told ITV: 'I think this is a mistake on Labour, to brief this out, I think it is a big mistake, it reminds me of what happened in the 1970s when [former US president] Jimmy Carter when America was going through difficult times said 'this country is in the grip of a malaise'. 'You do not, if you are the government, accentuate the negative in this way and you certainly don't suggest to people that violence might be about to break out in this way.' A spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council, the authority which is responsible for Canary Wharf, called on the government to ensure 'that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel'. 'We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place,' the spokesman added.


Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
SUV driver who hit and killed two-year-old girl at family holiday park may not have been able to see her, coroner rules
An SUV driver who tragically hit and killed a two-year-old at a holiday park may not have been able to see her, a coroner has ruled. Isabella Tucker died from her injuries after being hit by the car at Horsley Hale Farm in Littleport, Norfolk in November 2023. The toddler, from Shadwell, London, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Norfolk but later died of her injuries. An inquest heard how the toddler sustained fatal injuries after the vehicle 'drove forward at low speed on a grass field' and made contact with the 'front nearside' of the SUV. Investigators determined there were no defects with the vehicle and the collision, which left the driver uninjured, had occurred during daylight hours, with good visibility and favourable weather conditions. But area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Elizabeth Gray said forensic examination had established that the two-year-old may not have been visible to the driver. She added: 'The police investigation was unable to establish the precise movements of Miss Tucker immediately prior to the collision. 'It appears that she was in close proximity to the front near side of the Mazda when the driver moved off.' The coroner recorded a cause of death of multiple traumatic head injuries as the result of a road traffic collision. Following the tragedy, bereaved mother Vaiida Sprainyte said: 'A beautiful daughter and little sister. 'You stole my breath, you stole my heart. 'You're part of me my little daughter. It's so easy to love you. Loved you from first sight and will love you forever.' Horsley Hale Farm is a popular glamping spot which Isabella and her family were visiting from London Speaking to MailOnline at the time, the owner of the site Stuart Hatton said that staff had been left heartbroken by the death and that they were planning to plant a tree in Isabella's honour A 42-year-old woman from Leeds had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but was released on bail.