THE family of a missing Preston woman believes she may have been lured into the religious cult exposed in the Citizen last week.

Pauline Dixon, 23, disappeared after a row with her mum and sister the day after Mother's Day last year, taking all her belongings with her.

Her sister Anne, 26, and mother, have failed to track her down - but believe they've stumbled on a clue in our front page last week.

After reading about the Manchester Christian Church, a religious group which is part of the global International Churches of Christ, nurse Anne, of Clyde Street, Ashton, feels sure she has found the key to Pauline's disappearance.

She said: "Pauline vanished after a petty row. But she had been acting very strangely for about six months before that - which is why I believe she may have joined this cult.

Anne said Pauline, who was studying for a degree in race, ethnic and women's studies at the University of Central Lancashire until last year, had lived with female students in Talbot Road, Preston, but rarely socialised.

Anne added: "She became withdrawn and started to listen to strange music and take interest in bizarre organisations.

"She has always been a loner but before she vanished, she had also begun to wear Gothic clothes and neglected her appearance."

After the row Anne visited Pauline's Talbot Road digs, but was told she had moved. University staff unsuccessfully tried to contact Pauline. Then before Christmas, Pauline telephoned a friend, who asked her when she was coming home. She laughed and put the phone down.

Anne, who has reported Pauline missing to police, believes she could have got involved with the cult.

Last week ex-Prestonian Ian Howarth, director of the southern-based Cult Information Centre, warned students about the cult, claiming it is similar to the cult behind the Waco siege. Pauline is described as 5ft 4ins tall, plump, with long, straight, dark blonde hair. She dresses in black. If you know of her whereabouts, contact the Citizen newsdesk on (01772) 255523.

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