THE family of Mary Duncan, missing for 43 years, celebrated her 60th birthday at the weekend as they continue their hope to be reunited with her once again.

Mary disappeared from Bonhill at the age of 17, leaving behind her young daughter and heartbroken sisters, brother and mum.

Police continue to treat the case as a missing person inquiry and have appealed for information as a dedicated team of officers investigate what happened.

Sisters Debbie, Mandy and Marion and their brother spent part of Saturday – Mary’s birthday – driving around the Vale and focusing on happy memories.

They also tied ribbons to a fence at the last place they saw Mary - near their former home in Third Avenue.

Mandy told the Reporter: “We spent time together reminiscing on happier memories of Mary and growing up.

“We drove round the Vale visiting old haunts and noticing how much some things have changed but yet how some have stayed the same.

“Obviously it was quite a poignant day but we still managed to enjoy being together and there was lots of laughter.

“When siblings get together it usually descends into ‘remember when you/we did this’. That’s how it was for us and we definitely focused on ‘good times’.”

But the pain is still very real and raw for the siblings, who gave an emotional press conference with police in July 2018 to appeal for new information and more witnesses.

And Mandy said they remembered their mum, Ruby, in particular at the weekend. She died in 1989 at the age of 50, never knowing what happened to her daughter.

“As much as this is all about Mary and preserving our memories of her we are also doing this for our mum,” added Mandy. “It broke her.”

Mary was the oldest of the children and worked as a machinist in Rosshead, but disappeared after visiting a friend in Tullichewan.

She gave birth to Laura on February 17, 1975, but left home without her on March 19, 1976. She has never been seen or heard from again.

Tragically, Laura died of natural causes in October 1976.

Detectives last year said Mary was known to frequent the grounds of the Vale of Leven Hospital and appealed for any patients or former employees to get in touch if they saw her that day.

Last week, Mary’s siblings told the BBC that police could excavate in West Dunbartonshire as part of their search for their sister.

The Reporter understands there is no firm plan to carry out a dig, but that it is one of a number of possibilities for the investigation going forward.

Mary is the step-daughter of Bonhill child abuser Norman Duncan, who detectives revealed they had interviewed in connection with the case.

Speaking at the press conference with Mary’s sisters in July last year, Detective Superintendent Calum Young said: “Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that Mary came to any harm, due to the fact that she has not been seen or heard from in 41 years, we can’t rule this out.

“Mary’s family were left completely devastated by her disappearance, a pain which lives with them to this day, and it is vital that we get to the bottom of what happened to their sister and provide them with some closure.

“I believe the answer to what happened to Mary lies within the local community.”

Police said they got a “number of calls” as a result of the summer appeals.

Mary’s sister, Marion McFarlane, told the BBC last week: “We should be having a birthday party, buying balloons and celebrating Mary’s 60th birthday with her and her children and maybe grandchildren.

“That’s a whole generation that is missing from our family. Our grandkids are growing up and every time we have a birthday or anniversary we are reminded Mary’s not here and her kids and grandkids are not here.”