A DERBYSHIRE woman has told of the "absolute torture" her family has endured since her aunt vanished without a trace in Mexico two weeks ago.

Judith Browne said she was distraught when she heard 77-year-old Julia Howard had gone missing the day after arriving in Cancun.

Mrs Howard had flown out with family to the five-star Moon Palace Resort on Monday, June 15.

The following morning, after having breakfast with her son, daughter and daughter-in-law, Mrs Howard said she was going back to her room to get her sun hat before taking a walk.

That was the last time she was seen and now, 15 days later, Mrs Browne said the uncertainty was very difficult to bear.

The mother-of-three said: "We would all rather know one way or the other. When my aunt disappeared there was absolutely no trace of where she went.

"She had said she was going to her room to get her hat but the hotel security checked the records of her door key card. It showed she had never made it to her room.

"The resort is right on the coast and my aunt might have gone down to the beach but she can't swim and wouldn't have gone near the water.

"Besides this, she has a bad hip and can't walk for very long. I think her children knew very quickly something was wrong."

Mrs Browne, 50, lives in Ecclesbourne Avenue, in Duffield, with her husband, Mark, 48, a GP at Osmaston surgery.

She said: "It's terribly frustrating for us. Her children are still out in Mexico but we are miles away here and just waiting. It's absolute torture."

Mrs Browne, who works as a part-time orthoptist at Derby City General Hospital, said the Mexican authorities had been searching the area using sniffer dogs, mounted police, divers and helicopters.

She said: "The police in Mexico are looking for her and there were posters put up around the resort but we have heard nothing. She really disappeared without a trace.

"Behaviour like this is very unusual for her. She is of sound mind and quite sane. The way she just vanished has blown our minds.

"She did not even have her handbag with her. But we have not given up hope yet."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm we have had reports of a British national being missing in Cancun and we have been in touch with the family."

Mrs Howard, a widow, lives in Edinburgh.