River searched after body find

Shafilea Ahmed: Missing since September 2003

Police are searching a riverbank in their hunt for clues into the disappearance of a Cheshire girl.

Jewellery similar to that owned by Shafilea Ahmed, 17, was found on a body pulled out of the River Kent, in Sedgwick, Cumbria, two weeks ago.

The results of DNA tests on the body are expected on Friday.

Miss Ahmed was last seen at home in Warrington in September shortly after drinking bleach in protest at an arranged marriage.

She had been on holiday in Pakistan when she was introduced to a potential suitor.

Cheshire Police said last year they believed she was dead and had not ruled out the possibility she was murdered.

Shafilea lived with her parents - taxi driver Iftikhar, 44, and Farzana, 41 - at their home in Liverpool Road, Great Sankey, Warrington.

They said a gold zigzag bracelet and blue topaz ring found on the body in Cumbria were similar to jewellery owned by their daughter.

The couple were arrested in December on suspicion of abducting their daughter but were released on bail pending further inquiries.