Police investigating the disappearance of mum-of-five Sarah Wellgreen have closed off an area near Fawkham.

Officers taped off Scratchers Lane, which runs at the back of Brands Hatch and parallel to the M20, at about 4pm yesterday - and it is expected to remain closed today while searches continue.

Eye witnesses said search and rescue teams, police dogs, two fire engines and a forensic van were at the scene.

A police spokesman said: "Further to our appeal for information, officers investigating the disappearance and potential murder of New Ash Green mother of five Sarah Wellgreen are currently conducting searches including Scratchers Lane near Fawkham.

"There is no further development to the above at this stage."

Earlier today, detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said they were investigating the 46 year old's disappearance and were treating it as suspicious after she missed the birthday of one of her children.

The mother-of-five, who went missing a fortnight ago, was last seen in Bazes Shaw in New Ash Green on Tuesday, October 9.

Her car was left at her home address and since she disappeared, there have been no new transactions on her bank or credit cards.

Video: Police have cordoned off an area near Fawkham

This morning, head of major crime Det Supt Paul Fotheringham said Sarah's disappearance was "entirely out of character" and, after conducting "extensive inquiries and searches", the case was now being treated as a potential murder.

Officers have today been searching more areas of woodland along with people living in the village who have volunteered to help search again.

Hundreds of residents from the area helped officers conduct a search of woodlands and the area around Sarah's home at the weekend.

About 100 people living nearby helped search woodland areas last Saturday and about the same amount of people also searched on Sunday.

Woodland near her home was taped-off by police during the first week of her disappearance while officers conducted the search with dogs and drones and scoured the nearby countryside looking for the missing mum.

A man in his 30s, was arrested last Tuesday in connection with Sarah's disappearance, he was questioned for three days after detectives applied for extensions to his custody.

He has been bailed until Friday, November 16.

If anyone has any information, call police on 0207 158 0011 quoting 11-0423. Freephone 0800 056 0154.