Missing woman 'may have run off road'

Police believe a 62-year-old woman missing while on a car trip between Christchurch and the West Coast may have run off the road.

Alison McDonald left Christchurch at 7.45am on Friday and had been expected at her home in Greymouth by midday.

Police southern communications shift manager Rick Jury said today while it was "only speculation" that she had gone off the road it was the "only course of action" the investigation was looking at.

Searchers on foot were continuing to look for her along the route she took.

Police had driven the route and conducted an aerial search from Porters Pass to the West Coast but found no signs of her or her blue Toyota Corolla, registration number CYH390.

- NZPA