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South Wales Police
Lorraine Ridout went missing on the evening of 31 January 2016, after she was last seen near her Cardiff home
The daughter of a woman who disappeared without a trace 10 years ago has said "life is unbearable without her".
Lorraine Ridout, 57, went missing on the evening of 31 January 2016, after she was last seen near her Cardiff home.
At the time, specialist divers, dog units and forensic teams were all involved in what was described as one of the largest police searches Cardiff had seen.
Marking a decade since Lorraine's disappearance, her daughter Christine said her family would "never stop" looking for her, adding: "We get up each day in hope as that is all we have left."
Missing People
Christine thought her mother had been staying at an aunt's house
On the day of her disappearance, Lorraine was seen near the Premier shop on Gabalfa Avenue, close to her home on Aberporth Road.
She was last spotted on Heol Amlwch at 19:40 on 31 January after heading to a friend's house, but did not arrive.
On the first anniversary of her disappearance, Cardiff residents distributed leaflets around Gabalfa and Fairwater to try and help find the grandmother, who was described as 171cm tall with a slim build, brown eyes, and black Afro hair.
Christine said: "Ten years feels like a life sentence with grief and unexplainable pain. My mother was loved by her husband, daughters, son and grandson.
"Since her disappearance she has additional grandchildren that would love to meet her, and she would be so in love with them they are beyond beautiful."
She added her "beautiful" mother had missed "so many family events".
"We all need her at times, especially when only a mother's love will do.
"We get up each day in hope as that is all we have left. Mum, we love you and we have not forgotten you, fighting is tiring but we will never stop and one day hopefully we will meet again."
South Wales Police
Police divers searching the River Taff in 2016 as part of efforts to try and find Lorraine Ridout
Speaking a year after her mother's disappearance in 2017, Christine said she assumed Lorraine had stayed at an auntie's house but "realised that something was wrong" when she did not come home the following evening.
"My mum's handbag was there, her phone, her tobacco. Anyone who knows my mum knows she goes everywhere with tobacco.
"This is unusual for my mum, she doesn't like to go to areas she's unaware of."
Christine said her mum loved music and singing and was a Marvin Gaye fan.
"She was just lovely, if she could help you then she would," she added.
Ndella Senghore, of the charity Missing People, has asked anyone with information to contact the organisation's helpline.
She said: "Lorraine, if you are reading this, please get in touch.
"Our service is non-judgemental, confidential, and free. We just want to provide you with the support you need and help you to be safe."
