THE brother of missing Christchurch woman Isobel Munro has made an emotional plea for his younger sister to get in touch with her family.

Isobel who has learning difficulties and is profoundly deaf, has now been missing for six weeks.

The 41-year-old was last seen by her mother on Monday, April 11, when she left her home address in Latimers Close, Christchurch, in a taxi.

She was reported missing the following Monday (April 18).

Speaking to the Echo, her brother Mark Munro described how Isobel's disappearance has devastated the family - especially their mother Lesley.

"It's been very distressing for her as the two of them had been living together and caring for each other for the last 15 years," said Mark, who lives in Dublin.

"Unfortunately she has been really affected by Isobel's disappearance especially as there seems to be no trace of her anywhere."

According to Mark, Isobel left the house to run the usual errands on the day she disappeared.

"She usually goes into town to do the shopping, pick up prescriptions and go to the post office.

"She said goodbye to my mother got into a taxi and left, but for some reason she never came home."

Mark describes his sister as a very caring person who, despite various knock backs in life, has managed to remain very loving and kind.

Since her disappearance Mark has travelled to Highcliffe on a number of occasions to help police with the search and has been "blown away" by how well his sister is thought of by people in the town.

"Isi has lived in the town most of her life, even attending Highcliffe Comprehensive, but unfortunately because she and my mother suffered from a number of problems they became quite reclusive.

"So it was a lovely surprise to discover she is very well liked in the town and people were aghast to discover she had gone missing.

"The police have been absolutely fantastic as well and the whole family just wants to say thank you."

Despite extensive searches for Isobel police and her family are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.

She has gone missing in the past, travelling through the country on public transport, but according to Mark she came home within a few days and has never been gone this long before.

"I just hope that maybe she felt she had to go away because she had enough of her present situation and now thinks she can't come back because she has upset us," said Mark, 45.

"We just want her to know that this is not the case. We don't blame her and we just want her to know that if she comes home then things will change.

"All we want is for her to get in touch and give us a sign that she is okay."

Isobel is described as white, five feet six inches tall and of medium build. She wears glasses and has mousey brown curly hair in the style of a bob.

She also wears a hearing aid and reads lips.

Anyone with information about Isobel’s whereabouts should call Dorset Police or their local force on 101, and mention incident number is 18:296.