Nicola Payne disappearance: Appeal for two men

Nicola Payne was last seen on 14 December 1991

Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother 21 years ago say they want to identify two men seen close to where she went missing.

Nicola Payne, 18, was last seen in the Henley Green area of the city on 14 December 1991.

In June, police dug up land near Purcell Road in the city but did not find any remains.

Following a case review, detectives said they wanted to make a fresh appeal for information and identify the men.

The last reported sighting of Ms Payne was of her leaving Winston Avenue as she made her way back from her boyfriend's family home. She had a six-month-old baby at the time.

'Modern day techniques'

West Midlands Police said the men were seen close to Cardinal Wiseman School next to a metallic blue Ford Capri.

They are both described as white, one being 6ft, well built and wearing a brown leather jacket at the time.

The second was believed to be 6ft 3in, thin, with short brown hair with a left side parting and wearing a brown bomber style leather jacket, hooded sweatshirt and light blue jeans.

The vehicle had a black spoiler, chrome wheels and may have had a V-registration.

Police want to know more about two men seen by a blue Ford Capri like this one

Det Insp Martin Slevin said although the information was not new and known to the inquiry very early on, he was not satisfied the men had been eliminated from the inquiry after reviewing the case.

"That's why I want to appeal for people with any information about the sighting of this vehicle and the two men to come and talk to us now and see whether we can eliminate them," he said.

"In terms of an investigative review we always go back to day one and start to apply modern day techniques to what's going on and what we know from day one.

"DNA sampling wasn't available at the time that Nicola disappeared.

"We do hold Nicola's DNA sample now and that will be compared if appropriate against any samples that we can find in the future."

No-one has ever been charged in connection with the case.

A reward of £10,000 is available for information leading to her whereabouts.