COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother last seen 21 years ago are searching parkland after being given new information.



Nicola Payne, aged 18, went missing from the Wood End area on 14 December 1991. She had a six-month-old son.

She was on her way to her parents' house from the home she shared with her boyfriend in Winston Avenue.

Miss Payne's family said it was appealing for the public to help the police in the search off Purcell Road.

'Think back'

Det Ch Insp Matt Markham said: "New information 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.

"We would urge the local community to think back as to whether they saw anything suspicious on or around that day either at this location or where Nicola was last sighted, near to the Black Pad in Wood End."


Police have cordoned off the area off Purcell Road

The search includes specially-trained dogs and Home Office scientists using ground x-ray and metal detection equipment. West Midlands Police said it could take several days to complete.

Family liaison officers are on site while the search takes place.

In a statement, the family said: "For many years we have suffered not knowing what has happened to her and we are appealing to find Nicola and give us the clue we deserve.

"This demonstrates that there are people still providing vital and important information around her disappearance."

Miss Payne's son Owen is now aged 21.

He did not wish to talk about recent events, but in 2007, aged 16, he spoke about the sadness of not having any memory of his mother.

He said: "During my early years at school I wished that my mum could meet me at the school gates as other mums did with my friends.

"I envy my older cousins who remember her well, and they tell me what a fun-loving girl she was."

At the same time, Miss Payne's father John said the family did not believe Nicola was still alive but they would never give up hope that one day she would be found.

Miss Payne had left the home she shared with her boyfriend, Jason Cooke, half a mile from her parents' house.

In 2007 a man was arrested in connection with her disappearance and released on bail. No-one has ever been charged in connection with the case.

Two arrests in missing mum search

Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother last seen 21 years ago have arrested two men.

Nicola Payne went missing from the Wood End area in December 1991. She was 18 and had a six-month-old son.

West Midlands Police began searching parkland off Purcell Road on Tuesday following new information.

Det Ch Insp Matt Markham said a 74-year-old man and a 45-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to prevent the lawful burial of a body.

He said the arrests of the men, both local to Coventry, were "directly linked" to information police were given on Tuesday.

He added: "News of these arrests may cause people to reconsider their position and if they haven't so far felt able to come forward with information, then I would urge them to now do so in light of these arrests."

Excavation work

The two men have been taken to police stations in Coventry where they will be interviewed by detectives later.

The latest search has focused on a section of woodland with specially-trained dogs and ground X-ray and metal detection equipment being used.

Police said reasonable progress was being made with clearing the ground with a view to some excavation work taking place later in the search.

Det Ch Insp Markham said: "We're committed to doing a detailed and thorough job, we owe that to Nicola's family and friends and the community of north east Coventry for whom this was a significant event."

Miss Payne was last seen near to the Black Pad in Wood End on 14 December 1991.

In 2007 a man was arrested in connection with her disappearance and released on bail.

No-one has ever been charged in connection with the case.