Mystery over body found in garden

Dinah McNicol was 18 when she disappeared in August 1991

Human remains found in a garden in Kent were unlikely to be those of a teenager who went missing in 1991, police said.

The remains were found by police looking for Dinah McNicol, who was 18 when she failed to return to her home in Essex after a trip to Hampshire.

Officers found personal effects at the Margate house which did not tally with information about Miss McNicol.

Police forces are being asked to provide any information about Peter Tobin, a former owner of the property.

I won't be leaving that house until I am absolutely satisfied there are no more human remains there Det Supt Tim Wills

It is being reported that the Scot, who is now in his 60s, is being linked with inquiries into a number of murders in the UK.

A police Homicide Working Group has asked forces across the UK to investigate Mr Tobin's movements over the past two decades.

Miss McNicol from Tillingham, Essex, vanished on the way home from a music festival in Hampshire.

Essex Police Det Supt Tim Wills said: "When the body was examined at the mortuary there were personal effects on the body that would lead me to think that it probably isn't Dinah McNicol.

"I'm waiting for scientific confirmation which could be some days away... At this time I don't believe it is Dinah McNicol.

"I'm still looking for Dinah McNicol, that means we are still excavating parts of the garden.

"There is some work going on inside the house, particularly floors being lifted.

"I am very interested to find out what is there, suffice to say that I won't be leaving that house until I am absolutely satisfied there are no more human remains there."