Ms Wellgreen, 46, (pictured) was last seen on the evening of October 9 and has not been in touch with her family since
Drains and woodland were searched by police in the hunt to find Sarah Wellgreen, who vanished almost three weeks ago.
A group of 12 officers combed through a site three miles from the missing mother-of-five’s home on Sunday.
They were seen scouring woodland in Longfield, Kent with rakes, spades and other equipment.
It is believed police search teams were also operating in the nearby village of Hartley.
Council workers and police were photographed searching drains near the Orchards Shopping Centre in Dartford.
Others were seen sweeping overgrown fields near New Ash Green, where the mother-of-five disappeared on the evening of October 9.
Ms Wellgreen has not been in touch with her family since.
It comes after it was revealed on Sunday that Ms Wellgreen’s ex-boyfriend Ben Lacomba faked a row on Judge Rinder to try and fund a custody battle against her.
Council workers and police were photographed checking the drains near the Orchards Shopping Centre in Dartford
Police search officers at work in Longfield near New Ash Green in Kent, as the investigation continues into the disappearance
Mr Lacomba pretended his then-girlfriend Leanne Edwards was just a lodger who owed him £4,550 in rent.
He persuaded Ms Edwards to hide their relationship from ITV bosses when they appeared on the show in 2015.
Mr Lacomba hoped a payout from the programme would help him in his custody battle against Ms Wellgreen over their three children.
But his plan failed when Judge Rinder sided with his girlfriend instead.
Ms Edwards, from Dartford in Kent, told the Sun: ‘The show didn’t know we were a couple. He concocted all that up and I just went with it.
It is believed police search teams were also operating in the nearby village of Hartley on Sunday
Officers were also seen sweeping overgrown fields near New Ash Green, where the mother-of-five disappeared on October 9
‘He went out of his way to make money and it didn’t work. He was gutted because he needed that money to pay for a barrister in court.’
The childminder and Mr Lacomba split in 2016, but Ms Edwards remained close to the missing mother, who she knew from her work at the homeless shelter where she was staying.
Ms Edwards last saw Ms Wellgreen days before she went missing on October 9.
Her ex-boyfriend was arrested and quizzed over Ms Wellgreen’s disappearance, which police confirmed they are treating as potential murder.
Mr Lacomba has since been released on bail.
The search in Longfield comes after it was revealed on Sunday that Ms Wellgreen’s ex-boyfriend Ben Lacomba faked a row on Judge Rinder to try and fund a custody battle
Ms Wellgreen reportedly argued with Mr Lacomba over benefits payments the day before she went missing
The River Darent in Dartford town centre was searched by divers on Saturday as detectives pursued clues about the disappearance.
Specially-trained officers wearing waders got into the waist-deep water and used a conical-shaped aquascope to look underwater as well as using sticks to probe the river bed.
Ms Wellgreen reportedly argued with her ex-boyfriend over benefits payments the day before she went missing.
The 46-year-old’s iPhone 4 is also missing and untraceable and she has not used any of her bank cards since she vanished. She has also missed one of her children’s birthdays.
Police divers searched a river near where Sarah Wellgreen went missing trying to find clues to her whereabouts on Saturday
The marine search unit officers from Kent Police dredged the River Darent in as the hunt for missing Sarah continued yesterday
Police search teams were combing the areas around the village of New Ash Green near Dartford, Kent, on Sunday with volunteers from the village searching footpaths and bridal tracks for the missing black phone.
Kent Police said: ‘Marine search unit officers are currently searching the River Darent in Dartford town centre in connection with the disappearance and potential murder of New Ash Green mother of five, Sarah Wellgreen.’
She was said to have had a disagreement with her former husband Mr Lacomba, 38, who she still lived with despite the couple breaking up to reduce the stress on their children.
Ms Wellgreen told her new boyfriend, Neil James, 45, that Mr Lacomba wanted to claim benefit money for their three children after she started a new job, according to the Sun.
Mr James reportedly received a Facebook message from the mother saying: ‘Next he will be saying they live with him.’
Divers scoured the river in Dartford, Kent and using a drone to fly over the site as they hunted for clues
Neighbours joined the search for Ms Wellgreen with a Facebook group launched to co-ordinate the hunt
Two officers flew a drone over the site in what was thought to be a search for Ms Wellgreen’s missing mobile phone.
Police units have been searching undergrowth, flower beds and drains in the centre for three days in a bid to find the device.
The uncle of the missing mother said he is so distraught about her disappearance it has been ‘hard to hold the emotions back’ at work.
Keith Wellgreen said he is having sleepless nights thinking about his niece and believes ‘something has definitely happened’ to her.
The 60-year-old bus driver, from Fareham, Hampshire, said: ‘I’m gutted really – I’ve been up since 3am again this morning just thinking about it.
Officers have been searching Dartford town centre for Sarah’s black iPhone 4 following her disappearance on October 9
‘It’s hard to believe this is even real. You always hear about other people’s problems and what other families have to go through for missing people and murders – you just never imagine it could happen to a member of your own family.
‘The back of my mind thinks something has definitely happened to her because it’s been so long.
‘The police are doing a wonderful job and deep down I am praying they find her alive. I don’t really talk about it to people – it’s just too difficult.
‘I work driving the buses every day, so people say to me “have a nice weekend” but they don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes. I’m sure things will be nicer for them than for me.
Neil James (right) claims he secured a mortgage to buy out Miss Wellgreen’s former partner, Ben Lacomba (left)
‘When I was driving a few days ago a story came on the radio about Sarah and it was hard to hold the emotions back. It’s just very upsetting.
‘I’ve always been a man who has kept myself to myself and find it difficult to talk about how I’m feeling, but this has been really hard.’
Friends of Ms Wellgreen are becoming increasingly worried about the amount of time that has gone by without her getting in touch.
Jody and Laura Fullbrook’s son George, six, regularly played with one of Sarah’s six-year-old twins.
Ms Wellgreen put her former partner at the top of an online ‘hate list’ two years ago, according to Mr James, who was her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance
Mr Fullbrook, 42, said: ‘I am starting to fear the worst – it’s been too long. She’s not used her bank cards, her phone, she’s not used her car.
‘You can’t disappear nowadays without showing some sign of where you are.
‘She wouldn’t have stayed away from her kids for this long. She wasn’t that aloof. Something has happened.
‘She was never away from her kids for very long. Missing her kid’s birthday… it just doesn’t sound right.
‘Her poor children. All the kids will be absolutely devastated. We really hope she does get found safe and well and everyone can stop worrying.’
Fire Service search teams at the cordon in Scratchers Lane near Fawkham, Kent, where the search is being carried out
Ms Fullbrook said the mother used to visit Portsmouth regularly while working at weekends but always stayed in contact with her family.
The 32-year-old said: ”She’d always be in contact with them. I’m worried for Sarah. It’s been too long now.’
Ms Fullbrook said she initially thought Ms Wellgreen may have gone on holiday with a man after visiting dating sites.
She added: ‘She was on a lot of dating sites. At first, I thought she might just have gone away for a week with someone.
‘But now it’s been three weeks nearly. It’s starting to feel round here like she has been killed. I hope she does turn up.’
Ms Wellgreen is described as being white, around 5ft 7ins, of medium build, with green eyes and straight, brown, shoulder-length hair.
On Friday, police finished searching woodland near her home in the village of New Ash Green as drains were also searched in nearby Dartford.
Police are investigating why CCTV cameras near to the house where Ms Wellgreen lived were disabled during her disappearance
Searches are expected to continue with specialist police teams – who are being advised by a national search and forensic unit – scouring undergrowth and plant beds in Dartford
Detective Inspector Chris Greenstreet said: ‘Our officers are continuing to carry out searches, which include Dartford town centre and areas near Fawkham, in connection with the disappearance and potential murder of New Ash Green mother of five Sarah Wellgreen.
‘Officers are being assisted by Kent Fire and Rescue Service personnel with their drone.
‘In Dartford, Kent County Council contractors have assisted with the examination of drains and Dartford Borough Council have also helped officers with ongoing searches.’
Ms Wellgreen also put her former partner at the top of an online ‘hate list’ two years ago, according to Mr James, who says he was her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance.
Police are scouring Dartford in Kent as they search for the one item missing from Miss Wellgreen’s home – her phone
In a social media post written by Ms Wellgreen in February 2016 listed the ‘four things I hate’ with ex-partner Mr Tacomba at the top of the list, with ‘four things I love to watch’ included her children at the top and ‘Ben losing’ at the bottom.
She had moved back into her ex’s £330,000 four-bedroom home in New Ash Green with their three youngest children in recent months.
But the romance had not rekindled, with friends telling how the former lovers had a hostile relationship after years of fighting for custody of their children.
A close friend claimed Ms Wellgreen had been seeking legal advice in order to buy Mr Tacomba out of the house as recently as July.
Ms Wellgreen’s new boyfriend Neil James, 45, spoke to her on the phone for 15 minutes when she was tucked up in bed on the night that she vanished (Pictured, the pair together)
Police combed the streets in Dartford, Kent as they searched for the iPhone 4 missing from her home
Police officers were seen leaving a vineyard after they started digging at the site, which has been cordoned off since the disappearance was reported
Searches are being advised by a national search and forensic unit – scouring undergrowth and plant beds in Dartford town centre close to the railway station and civic centre as well as the town’s theatre.
Police cars blocked the road at junctions leading into the area of interest and at one stage on Friday an officer was seen digging in an area of a field briefly as police revealed Ms Wellgreen was not reported missing until 36 hours after she disappeared.
Ms Wellgreen is thought to have vanished overnight between Tuesday October 9 and 10. Kent Police issued a missing persons appeal to find Sarah on October 12.
Police conducted a search of Hythe Street in Dartford. Officers searched in drains and bins by All Night Cars, where Sarah Wellgreen’s former partner worked as a taxi driver.
Fire service rescue teams have been called in to help police with the search for Ms Wellgreen
They also searched the garden at The Stage Door pub nearby telling bar staff they were looking for Ms Wellgreen’s phone.
The day she disappeared she had seen a number of mystery private clients, it has emerged.
Mr James said he spoke to her on the phone for 15 minutes when she was tucked up in bed on the night that she vanished.
He said: ‘She’s a massage therapist, beautician, that sort of thing. She has private clients.
‘She’d just finished private clients on the Tuesday when she text me to say that she got home at 8.15pm.’
Her close friend Katharine Griffiths said she had last spoken to her in July.
Police say they are concerned about her whereabouts and say her disappearance is suspicious and may lead to a murder inquiry
Police search officers in Scratchers Lane near Fawkham in, Kent, as the investigation continues in to the disappearance of the mum-of-five
She said: ‘She was her usual happy and bubbly self.’
As well as working weekends at Puresun Health and Beauty in Portsmouth, she also took on private massage clients.
And on the Tuesday she was last seen in New Ash Green, the 46-year-old saw several people for personal appointments.
Kent Police have refused to confirm whether that is one of their lines of investigation, saying the inquiry is ongoing.
Ms Wellgreen and Mr Tacomba had once owned a bar together while living in Spain before moving to the secluded village near Dartford.
But friends said by 2014 the couple had split up, and the following years saw hostilities heat up as they argued over their three children – a 12-year-old son and six-year-old twins – and who owned the house.
A close friend, who works in a Kent beauty salon and did not want to be named, said: ‘Three years ago Sarah went through a very difficult time over the children.
A cordon set up around the area where search teams combed woodland on October 24
Ben Larcomba playing with a Nerf gun. The taxi driver was questioned for three days before being released under investigation
‘The pair had a volatile relationship and Sarah could be up and down very quickly.
CCTV cameras near to the house where Ms Wellgreen lived were reportedly disabled during her disappearance.
Detectives questioned taxi driver Lacomba for three days last week before releasing him pending further investigation. He has an obsession with Nerf guns, the children’s toys that fire foam darts.
Mr Tacomba’s father Juan, 72, told The Times: ‘He is not involved at all, he is a good man. It is all a shock. I think she has run away. There were other men, so who knows.’
Detective Superintendent Paul Fotheringham who is leading the investigation and search, said earlier this week: ‘We are investigating the disappearance of Sarah. It is entirely out of character for her to go missing and having conducted extensive enquiries and searches, this case is now being treated as a potential murder.
‘Sarah has disappeared without a trace, the only item missing from the home is her black iPhone 4.
‘Officers have conducted extensive searches in New Ash Green and surrounding rural areas.
Officers are continuing to search the town centre after the mother’s mobile phone was the only thing found to be missing from her Kent home
Searchers comb through bushes in Dartford, Kent, as they look for the missing black iPhone 4
‘While we continue our investigation and enquiries, I would urge anybody who saw anything suspicious in the New Ash Green area at around the time Sarah went missing, that is overnight from the evening of Tuesday October 9, into the morning of Wednesday 10 October, to contact us.
‘We have experts with specialist technology and forensic scientists working with us to try and find Sarah.
‘Residents, businesses and landowners in the rural areas around New Ash Green are asked to check their outhouses, and areas surrounding their properties.
‘We are particularly interested to hear from anyone with fixed cctv cameras within a five mile radius of New Ash Green, whether this is residential or commercial cctv to come forward.
‘Likewise, anyone who was out on the evening of the October 9 to the morning of 10 October in that five mile area who has dashcam in their vehicle, please contact us.
‘We are also appealing to those living and working in the area bordered by the A2, M25, Meopham, Cobham, Horton Kirby and Darenth to check their sheds, outbuildings and areas of rough ground or woodland for any sign of Sarah.
‘Dog walkers and anyone out in rural areas should also call us if they see anything that seems suspicious.
‘If you think you may have seen Sarah or something suspicious but are not sure, please do not hesitate to call and let us know.
‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already called us, assisted with searches or sent messages of support to family who have been badly affected by Sarah’s disappearance.’