Pair Held Over Woman Missing Since 1991

Police investigating the disappearance of a teenager 21 years ago have arrested two men aged 74 and 45.

Detectives are searching parkland in the city for a second day after new information came to light about the disappearance of Nicola Payne, 18, who went missing in 1991.

West Midlands Police said the men were being held on suspicion of conspiracy to prevent the lawful and decent burial of a body.

Miss Payne was on her way to her parents' house, and had left her six-month-old son Owen with her boyfriend Jason Cook, at his home in Henley Green, Coventry.

Detectives have carried out many searches since her disappearance.

In 1996 they excavated the garden at a property in Coventry after receiving a tip off.

In 2001 they dredged a canal in the city, and bones were found near to where Miss Payne disappeared, but they turned out to be animal remains.

The decision to search the area follows the development of new information which has come to light.

Detectives are using ground-penetrating radar and specially trained dogs to help with the search.

More to follow...