Police investigating the disappearance of mother-of-two Katie Kenyon are prioritising a part of a forest following a tip-off from a member of the public.
Additional “search and forensic scrutiny” is being applied in an area north of Blackburn, Lancashire Constabulary said.
The force said it was focusing on the Forest of Bowland after receiving information on the sighting of a silver Ford Transit van – registration number MT57 FLC – last Friday, the day Ms Kenyon was last seen.
She was spotted getting into a van in Burnley.
The Forest of Bowland is in the Gisburn Forest area, where previous searches have also been carried out.
“Katie’s family are aware of the development, although at this early stage it is too soon to say if the find is linked to her disappearance,” officers said.
Their activity in the area “could take a number of days”.
They have previously said they are “working on the basis” that Ms Kenyon, 33, is “sadly no longer alive”.
People are being urged not to speculate on social media as “this could cause the family additional distress”.
Image: Katie Kenyon has not been seen since last Friday morning
Andrew Burfield, 50, appeared at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning charged with Ms Kenyon’s murder.
He is due before Preston Crown Court on Friday.
Image: Andrew Burfield gets into a prison van as he leaves Blackburn Magistrates’ Court
More than 60 specialist search officers from four police forces have been scouring forested areas looking for Ms Kenyon.
Officers from the Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales police forces are combing sites, assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team.
Ms Kenyon is described as 5ft 9in and white with shoulder-length strawberry blonde or ginger hair.
She was last seen wearing a blue shirt or jacket and white vest top, black leggings and flip flops.
Image: Police have received new information about this Transit van
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting log 800 of April 24, or they can contact officers through the major incident public portal.
Alternatively, they can ring independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
