THE INVESTIGATION into a woman who is missing with her three-year-old son has been widened following possible sightings in the Gloucestershire and Birmingham areas.

Rebecca, who likes to be known as Becky, and Ethan Minnock have not been seen since Tuesday, May 26 in the Musgrove Park Hospital area of Taunton.

She was due to attend a court hearing in Bristol the following morning (Wednesday) but failed to turn up and a missing person appeal was launched.

Yesterday reporting restrictions which had been imposed at Bristol Magistrates Court were lifted to allow the police to continue their search for missing Becky and her son, as concern grows for her welfare.

DCI Marie Wright said: “It is fairly unusual for a court to lift the reporting restrictions, allowing us to act as their agents and continue the search for Becky and her son.

“Since they were last seen in Taunton on May 26, we have reports that they have been spotted in the Cheltenham area and more recently in the Birmingham area of the West Midlands.

“We are keen to hear from Becky or anyone who knows her whereabouts to contact us.”

Becky is described as a white woman, aged 35 years, about 5ft 3ins tall of medium build. She has dark wavy shoulder length hair. It is not known what she was wearing when she went missing.

Ethan is a white boy, three-years-old of small build with blond/fair hair and blue eyes.

Becky does not drive and regularly uses public transport so  police are urging anyone who uses public transport to keep a lookout for Becky and her son.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Somerset Investigations via the police information number 101 and ask to be directed to Avon and Somerset Police, quoting reference MP2189/15/.