Police are searching near a town outside of Geelong for a Victorian mother missing since 2013, following a tip her remains may be in the area.

The probe for any signs of Lorrin Whitehead began this morning in Shelford, about 40 kilometres from Geelong, as police again renewed appeals for anyone with information to come forward.

The mother-of-five was last seen on February 8, 2013, in nearby Bannockburn, where she lived.

Police, who described her disappearance as “extremely out of character” and “extremely concerning” have called for information about a red 4WD. 

Witnesses reported seeing her get into the driver’s seat of the vehicle in Bannockburn CBD on the afternoon she disappeared and seeing it parked on the nature strip in front of her house across the following weekend despite it not being her car. 

But the last confirmed sighting was at 4.50pm on CCTV at the local supermarket, 10 minutes after leaving home.

Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Steve Murphy said there had been no confirmed sightings since 2013 and her bank accounts remained untouched.

“Since 2013, Lorrin’s disappearance has remained a mystery to her family, friends, police and the broader Bannockburn community,” he said, in a statement released this morning 

“There are a number of aspects to her disappearance that remain extremely concerning for investigators.”

Detectives have been speaking to several people who knew Whitehead and, despite the lack of sightings, work phone left behind at home and tip about human remains, aren’t ruling out any possibilities.

“The area for today’s search is not one that people will regularly walk through, so we’re hopeful there may be some sign of Lorrin here even after all these years.

“I can only begin to imagine how difficult the past 12 years have been for Lorrin’s family and loved ones not having any answers about why or how she disappeared.

“Investigators remain committed to getting those answers and hopefully today’s search can assist.”

Detectives today reiterated calls for anyone with information to come forward and re-released photos and a digital image showing how Lorrin may look today 

“This is a small community and potentially someone who never felt ready to speak to police might now be in a position to come forward,” Murphy said.

Whitehead was described as 170 centimetres tall, with a medium build, brown eyes, and brown hair. She was wearing black pants and a light-coloured shirt with a collar when she was last seen.

“The unknown is the hardest part, and every day you are so missed, you are so missed,” the mother’s oldest daughter, Amelia, told 9News in 2015.

“I trust my instincts, there was nothing wrong the last time I spoke to her.”