THE SEARCH for a missing junior doctor at Southmead Hospital has been called off.

Police have said that they are no longer “actively searching” for Dr Lauren Phillips, who was last seen on February 23.

She failed to turn up to work on the following Sunday and again on the Tuesday.

The 26-year-old's car was found abandoned more than 100 miles from her home in Bristol, in the North Devon village of Woolacombe, North Devon.

Police have searched the beach in North Devon, urging surfers, ramblers and other visitors to come forward if they have seen her.

Lauren, who is described as white, 5ft 5ins tall, of slim build with brown eyes and long dark brown hair, is thought to have been wearing a dark brown waxed cotton mid-length coat with cream wool-lined hood and a long cream woollen cardigan which has orange and blue detail.

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Police said: "We are not actively searching but we will respond.”

Colleagues across Bristol have expressed their concern for Lauren’s safety.

Monica Baird, deputy medical director of North Bristol NHS Trust, confirmed that they would be supporting the police in their efforts to locate the “valued member of our medical staff.”

She added: "We urge anyone who has any information about Lauren to contact the police."

Speaking on Tuesday, Detective Inspector Mark Langdon said that everything was being done to find Lauren, and that her family were being regularly updated.

He added: "As Lauren's car was found in Woolacombe our focus has been on the North Devon area and so we're directing our appeal at any surfers or ramblers who may have passed through the area in the past fortnight.

"Have you seen a woman matching Lauren's description? Have you seen any of the items of clothing she is thought to have been wearing when she went missing?

"Any information, no matter how insignificant you might think it is, could prove to be vital so please don't hesitate to get in touch."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police via 101 providing the call handler with the reference 5217045398.