Police Hunt For Woman Missing Since 1991

Detectives have begun searching parkland in Coventry for the body of a woman who went missing 21 years ago.

An area of land has been cordoned off under a mile away from where Nicola Payne was last seen.

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

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

Miss Payne was 18 when she went missing from the Wood End area of the city on December 14, 1991.

She 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.

Her family said in a statement: "It has been nearly 21 years since our daughter Nicola went missing.

"For many years we have suffered, not knowing what has happened to her.

"Today demonstrates that there are people still providing vital and important information to the police around her disappearance.

"If there is anyone who has information that will assist the police around this new site or witnessed anything around this location back in December 1991, please make contact with the officers.

"We are appealing as a family to find Nicola and to give us the clue we deserve."

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Markham said: "Today's activity is as a direct result of new information which has been developed by detectives working on the case.

"The investigation into Nicola's disappearance has always remained open and any new information has been examined."