Nicola Payne: Two arrested over young mother's 1991 disappearance

News comes just days after police launched a fresh appeal for information

Undated handout file photo of Nicola Payne as police investigating the disappearance of the young mother 22 years ago have arrested two men on suspicion of her abduction and murder (PA)

Police investigating the disappearance of a young mother as she walked to her parents' home 22 years ago have arrested two men on suspicion of her abduction and murder.

West Midlands Police, investigating the disappearance of Nicola Payne, said the men, both 49, were arrested at 8am today at their home addresses in the Bell Green and Stoke areas of Coventry.

A 51-year-old woman was also arrested at the Bell Green address on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

All three have been taken to police stations in the West Midlands for questioning by detectives.

Ms Payne went missing after setting out on foot from her home in Coventry on 14 December 1991.

Despite extensive inquiries, 18-year-old Ms Payne - who had a seven-month-old baby son at the time - has never been seen again.

Her family are aware of today's development, police said.

It comes just days after a fresh appeal for information was launched, following new forensic results which detectives described as “a breakthrough”.

PA