Kayleigh Haywood: Hunt for missing Leicestershire schoolgirl now treated as a murder investigation as two held

Two men - aged 27 and 28 - have been arrested in connection with the teenager's disapperance

Kayleigh, 15, is described as a 'bubbly, loving, caring' girl by her parents (Leicestershire Police)

The search for missing schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood is now being treated as a murder inquiry, police have said.

The 15-year-old has not been seen since being dropped off by her father at Ibstock Community College in Leicestershire at 6pm on Friday.

The news came as officers widened their search to include an area of agricultural land 10 miles away from her home.

Police with sniffer dogs were seen combing the area around Sence Valley Forest Park near Ibstock.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Sandall, Head of Crime at Leicestershire Police, said: "We have become increasingly concerned for Kayleigh's safety as the hours have passed since she was dropped off by her dad on Friday evening.

Kayleigh Haywood was last seen being dropped in the village of Ibstock in Leicestershire (Leicestershire Police/Twitter)

"Five days on, we've heard nothing from her and this is completely out of character.

"Since we started looking for her we have found her mobile phone in Melbourne Road, Ibstock and items of clothing which we believe are hers in the Ibstock and Diseworth areas.

"In all the circumstances, we fear the worst and have told her family to prepare themselves that we are now treating her disappearance as a murder inquiry.

"The park has been cordoned off and is likely to remain so for some days yet while we conduct a thorough search of the area looking for her."

Kayleigh's friend said she had made plans to meet a man she had met on Facebook (PA)

Kayleigh's parents, Stephanie Haywood and Martin Whitby, have also appealed for anyone with information about their "bubbly, loving, caring" daughter's whereabouts to contact the police.

Meanwhile, officers are continuing to question two men - aged 27 and 28 - who were arrested in the early hours of Monday in connection with the inquiry.

They were initially held on suspicion of kidnap but have since been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police and sniffer dogs search for evidence in Leicestershire (PA)

It comes as a friend of Kayleigh's told the Daily Mail that she had arranged to meet a man who had been messaging her on Facebook.

Police have appealed for witnesses in Diseworth and Belton areas between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning.

Anyone with information has been invited to call 0800 096 1233 or 0207 158 0197.

Additional reporting by PA