Body was landlady's - police

The skeleton was found at The Aubrey Arms

Dyfed Powys police have confirmed that the skeleton of a woman found in pub outbuildings in the Swansea Valley are the remains of the former landlady.

Barbara Maddock disappeared twenty-seven years ago but police searches at the time failed to find her.

Her husband Bill died ten years ago.

The couple ran the Aubrey Arms in Ystradgynlais.

The skeleton was found by building workers during renovation work earlier in the week.

Three days of forensic examination took place

On Thursday forensic dentist Dr David Whittaker, who carried out tests on the remains, said he had reached some tentative conclusions about their identity.

He said some teeth had been found in the skeleton and checks were being made of dental records.

Mrs Maddock's son had maintained that the remains were not those of his mother.

Chief Superintendent Wyn Davies from Dyfed Powys police told a news conference on Wednesday that the pub and outhouse had been thoroughly searched for two days at the time of Mrs Maddock's disappareance.

The case was made more confusing because there had been several possible sightings of Mrs Maddock following her disappearance, said Acting Detective Superintendent Euros Lewis, who is heading the investigation.

Renovation

He refused to confirm that the was heading a murder inquiry.

The skeleton was found by builders carrying out renovation work.

It is not yet clear how long they may have been in the building.

The outhouse was used as a storage room for the pub up to ten years ago, but his since been derelict.

Detectives appealed for any delivery men or trades people who may have visited it to come forward.