A RURAL area of East Lancashire is being combed in the search for missing woman Katie Kenyon.
Teams of police officers are stationed in and around Gisburn Forest as the quest for information on Katie’s whereabouts continues.
Also at the scene are the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service with their search dog unit and mountain rescue teams.
LATEST UPDATE: Man arrested on suspicion of murder of Katie Kenyon
Handlers are currently out searching with their dogs
Certain areas of the forest have been taped off to prevent the public from crossing into the parts which are being searched.
This afternoon during a press conference at Burnley Police Station, Detective Superintendent Gary Brooks confirmed that a man who remains in custody had been arrested on suspicion of kidnap.
Detectives have now been granted a further 36 hours to interview the 50-year-old man in connection to Katie’s disappearance.
The rural area in the Forest of Bowland where police are searching
It is believed that at around 9.30am on Friday (April 22) a woman matching Katie’s description left an address on Todmorden Road in Burnley with a man before getting into a silver Ford Transit with the registration MT57 FLC.
The pair are then thought to have travelled towards the Bolton-by-Bowland area and Katie has not been seen since. The man is thought to be known to Katie.
Searches are now focused on this area, with a visible police presence parked up along the roads.
Katie is described as white, 33, 5ft9in, with shoulder length strawberry blonde/ginger highlighted hair. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt/jacket and white vest top, black leggings and flip flops.
Det Chief Insp Al Davies, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “We continue to be extremely concerned about Katie and we have a large team who are working hard to try and find out what has happened to her.
“I am keeping an open mind about what has happened to her but my concern obviously grows as time goes by.
MISSING: Katie Kenyon
“I would appeal again to anyone who was in the Bolton-by-Bowland area on Friday and saw anything suspicious to get in touch, especially if they saw the silver van or Katie alone or in company. Please do come and speak to us even if you think the information you have may not be important.
“We continue to support Katie’s family and to keep them updated with any developments.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log 800 of April 24th or you can contact us through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020119P01-PO1
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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