Police identify skeleton remains

The skeleton was found at The Aubrey Arms

The skeleton of a woman found in pub outbuildings is that of the pub's former landlady, police have confirmed.

Barbara Maddock, who was then 45, disappeared 27 years ago, sparking a massive police hunt.

Her husband Bill had said his wife had left him to settle in Australia and took over the running of the Aubrey Arms in Ystradgynlais, in the Swansea Valley.

He died 10 years ago.

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.

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

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

The outhouse was used as a storage room for the pub up to 10 years ago, but has since been derelict.

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