TWO weeks have now passed since 78-year-old Maja O'Brien was last seen, and yesterday police stepped up their appeal to the public.

Officers handed out leaflets showing Maja's picture in Wytham Street, where she lives.

Oxford Mail:

Maja has been missing since the morning of Thursday, March 28, when it is believed she left her home between 5am and 9am.

Thames Valley Police today previous said her disappearance ‘is totally out of character’. The force are still trying to trace an eastern European musical instrument cleaner, who they believe keen flute player Ms O'Brien may have gone to meet.

READ AGAIN: Police try to trace musical instrument cleaner

But Ms O’Brien’s friend and cleaner Carole Thorn, who saw her on the Wednesday before her disappearance, fears she could have been concussed or confused.

She told the Oxford Mail: “It was the Tuesday when she bumped her head.

“I saw her on the Wednesday and said: ‘you have got to go to the doctors.’

“She has had three (recent) falls – hurting her shoulder, hand and head.”

Contrary to previous information, Maja is believed to be around 5ft 1ins tall. She is of average build, with short grey hair and brown eyes.

Oxford Mail:

ALSO READ:

- Elderly M40 crash driver had brain cancer, inquest hears

- Pair hope to break taboo after losing half of family to suicide

- 'Don't feed the birds' Trust warns after Red Kite attacks at beauty spot

Meanwhile, Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue have been working alongside police to carry out extensive enquiries to locate Ms O'Brien, who lives with a lodger, and is said to normally stick closely to a routine. 

Since she is believed to be on her bicycle, Detective Inspector James Senior, of Oxford Force CID, says the search area is "huge and there are endless possibilities as to where she could be."

Oxford Mail:

He added: "Extensive searches have been carried out on river banks, towpaths, the Abingdon Road (and) Hinksey swimming lakes."

Police are continuing to appeal for any CCTV or dash-cam footage from the Abingdon Road area of Oxford from the morning of her disappearance.

ALSO READ: CCTV and dash cam footage appeal

Anyone with any information about Maja’s whereabouts is asked to contact the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting the reference number 1528 (28/3).