Police follow new Charlotte clues

Charlotte Pinkney vanished a week before her 17th birthday

Police say they have received useful leads in the hunt for missing teenager Charlotte Pinkney.

Officers have been speaking to householders in the area around Slade Road in Ilfracombe, Devon, where Charlotte was last seen on 28 February.

A murder hunt was launched last week after Charlotte's distinctive handbag was found.

Charlotte, from Ilfracombe, disappeared after she was dropped off near a friend's house following a party.

Concern grew when she failed to contact her parents on her 17th birthday a week ago.

More than 60 police officers, coastguards and a search-and-rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor have been involved in the hunt for the teenager.

Police have been searching the area around the Slade Reservoirs

Police on Sunday were conducting further house to house inquiries as well as speaking to anglers and walkers near the Slade Reservoirs.

A police spokesman said: "We have had a lot of useful information from house to house inquiries.

"It will enable us to put a picture together of what happened."

Charlotte was last seen getting out of a red Vauxhall Cavalier car near the Slade Road Community Centre in Ilfracombe at 0400.

Forensic tests

She had been picked up from a party at a house in nearby Burnside Road between 0300 and 0330.

The car was abandoned in a small underpass near two reservoirs in the Slade Valley.

Charlotte's handbag, found in undergrowth near Ilfracombe, is being examined by forensic scientists.

Charlotte had the handbag when she went out on 27 February, intending to visit some pubs in Ilfracombe before going on to the party.

Charlotte's parents identified her bag

The leather bag was an accessory to a beige and cream thigh-length coat which was also being worn by Charlotte.

A 22-year-old man arrested in connection with her disappearance was released on bail last week and ordered to report back to police on 15 April.

The arrested man was the driver of the Vauxhall Cavalier car which dropped Charlotte off after the party.

Charlotte had been living with a boyfriend in Ilfracombe and is 5ft 2in with long dark brown waist-length hair.