Lamplugh police search ends

Police trying to find the body of Suzy Lamplugh, the estate agent who disappeared 14 years ago, have called off an intensive search of land near to Norton Barracks, Worcestershire.

Dog teams, police divers and forensic archaeologists began carrying out a fingertip search of a disused brickworks and a surrounding copse and lake on Monday.

Detective Superintendent Shaun Sawyer from the Metropolitan Police told reporters at the search scene that new sites would be searched in the new year and he remained "optimistic" of finding a body. He declined to identify the new sites.

The 25-year-old vanished in 1986 after going to show a property to a man calling himself Mr Kipper, in Fulham, south west London.

Suzy Lamplugh's disappearance has remained a mystery

Ms Lamplugh's body was never recovered, and eventually the family accepted she had been murdered.

Detective Superintendent Shaun Sawyer, of the Metropolitan Police, said at a news conference on Monday that the search was as a result of information received over the summer.

After the decision to end the search, Det Supt Sawyer said: "We were cautious at the beginning of the week whilst hopeful - that caution was justified.

"Prior to coming here we took an intelligence-led approach and it was sectioned off and key areas were searched."

He defended the decision to search key areas at the former Norton Brickworks and added: "We were optimistic we had good information and good intelligence that brought us here.

"I was conscious of public resources. It was a vast site ... we move on to other searches in the New Year."

Family optimistic

The detective said he had spoken to the Lamplugh family and they remained optimistic of a breakthrough in the inquiry and remained supportive.

Detectives recently questioned convicted killer John Cannan in connection with Miss Lamplugh's death.

Divers assisted intensive search

Scotland Yard said on Monday that he was no longer being quizzed and had not been charged in connection with the inquiry.

Ms Lamplugh's mother, Diana Lamplugh, was first told that her daughter could be buried at the abandoned army barracks in December 1999.

The information, which came through Mrs Lamplugh's own contacts rather than through detectives, was passed on via a telephone call and a letter.

Speaking after the end of the search, Mrs Lamplugh said she had not given up hope of finding her daughter's body.

"You don't realise deep down how much it matters until something like this, but one has to recognise it is a long time."

Mrs Lamplugh paid tribute to the police officers and forensic archaeologists who had taken part in the search.

But she added: "It's not the end of the story by a long way. There are going to be more digs in other places and there are going to be more interviews."

Cannan denial

Police have questioned Cannan in connection with the crime on previous occasions, but he has repeatedly denied having anything to do with Miss Lamplugh's death.

He is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in 1989 of murdering a 29-year-old woman.

The army barracks' location was thought to tie in with claims made more than a decade ago by Cannan's former girlfriend.

Suzy's family 'remain optimistic'

Gilly Paige said that while in a relationship with Cannan he had confessed to the crime and hinted about burying the body in Worcestershire.

In May this year the investigation was re-opened and an appeal was made on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

The publicity encouraged new witnesses to come forward.

Police then appealed for more information about a dark, left-hand drive BMW car that a jogger saw in Fulham at the time of Suzy's disappearance.

Anyone with information should call the incident room at Belgravia Police Station on 020 7321 925, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.