The brother of a missing woman who has not been seen or heard of for six weeks has issued an emotional appeal, saying: "Please come home, you are not in trouble."

Doug Irving, who lives in Scotby, near Carlisle, regularly kept in touch with his sister Susan Graham who went missing from her home in Penrith on November 20.

Mr Irving, 56, told the News & Star: "I just want to say to her: Please get in touch - let us know you are safe.

"You are not in trouble with anybody. Just come home and we will welcome you back with open arms."

One of the images issued by police shows the last known sighting of Susan – at Sainsbury's in the New Squares area of Penrith at about 4pm on November 20.

Susan, 58, is described as having shoulder-length dark brown hair, and is of medium build.

She was last seen wearing a long black jacket with a furry collar, a black belt, and flat, pump-style shoes.

Mr Irving regularly kept in touch with his sister by text and phone but had not seen her in person since her birthday in March last year.

He said: "Susan had recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis. She was often low and needed anti depressants."

Mr Irving said his sister was better known as Susan Irving and was the eldest of five children.

He said: "On November 20 she visited the home of her ex-partner and left her dog there saying she wasn't feeling very well and was going back to her own flat.

"She phoned him at 11pm saying she wasn't coming back for the dog and no one has seen or heard from her since.

"That was the last correspondence."

The alarm was raised on December 8 when Mr Irving went to her home and found the flat was empty.

Her mobile phone was found in the flat and police have sent it away for analysis.

Susan, who was unemployed, had attended a course on the day of her disappearance about getting back into work.

Mr Irving said: "She told the people on the course that she would not be there the following week as she was on jury service.

"I don't know if going on jury service has frightened her. It could possibly have upset her and because she didn't go to court she might now think that she's in trouble."

Describing his sister, Mr Irving said: "Susan is a very strong person. She has had to put up with a lot in her life."

Mr Irving said the feeling of not knowing where his sister is is "terrible".

He said: "I kept in touch as much as I could. Susan kept in touch with my partner Margaret as well. She liked to be on her own."

Susan grew up at Barrock Park, Low Hesket and has four younger siblings. They are Eileen, Doug, Neil and Anne.

Mr Irving said: "The police have searched the Penrith area with dogs and they've also carried out door to door enquiries.

"We've given them as much information as we can."

A police spokesman said: "Police are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101.

"Police also ask Susan, if she sees this appeal, to get in touch to let us know she is safe and well."