French police say they will “probably” have to wait until spring to continue the search for a British hiker who went missing last year in the Pyrenees.

Esther Dingley had been walking solo in the mountains near the Spanish and French border and was last seen on 22 November.

French police captain Jean Marc Bordinaro told The Times “all possible investigations” in French territory have been carried out “without any result”.

“We have no indication permitting us to confirm the presence of Esther Dingley in France since she was seen for the last time on the Spanish side of the Pic de Sauvegarde,” he said.

“We’ll probably have to wait till spring to undertake more searches.”

The 37-year-old’s partner Daniel Colegate, who had been hiking with her but was house-sitting at a French farmhouse on 22 November, said earlier this month he did not believe she fell or had some other kind of accident.

He also dismissed suggestions she could have disappeared on purpose.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Colegate suggested “somebody else has been involved in Esther’s disappearance and against her will”.

“This is a terrifying prospect and I wish I could believe otherwise, but I cannot,” he added.

The couple, who have been together for almost 19 years, met at Oxford University and lived in Durham before they set off travelling around Europe in a camper van six years ago.

Related posts:

Two escaped dogs who killed great-grandmother ‘humanely destroyed’ ‘Hundreds’ found and several arrested at illegal raves over Bank Holiday weekend When can you go on holiday abroad and what is the traffic light system for international travel? Police patrols increased in Bromley after reports of ‘perceived’ attempted abductions ‘Don’t let cancer patients be forgotten people of COVID’: Widow’s message to new health secretary Flood-hit London hospital cancels surgeries and appointments Weekly COVID deaths in England and Wales highest since April, says ONS COVID cases in UK fall for seventh day in a row – but number of new deaths highest since mid-March Women in British army facing bullying, sexual harassment and assault, study finds One of world’s first postage stamps to fetch up to £6m at auction MI5 officer admits different decisions could have stopped Manchester Arena bombing Cosmetic surgery adverts targeting teenagers to be banned from next year