Suzy Lamplugh: Police search home in Sutton Coldfield for clues to estate agent's disappearance and murder

Metropolitan Police refuses to comment on reports property is linked to suspect John Cannan

Police officers investigating the disappearance and presumed murder of Suzy Lamplugh three decades ago are searching a home in the West Midlands.

Metropolitan Police officers are combing through a property in Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, the force confirmed.

Estate agent Ms Lamplugh disappeared in 1986 after leaving her offices in Fulham, west London to meet a client known only as Mr Kipper.

On the day of her disappearance, witnesses reported seeing Ms Lamplugh arguing with a man outside a property in Shorrold Road, Fulham.

Her white Ford Fiesta was later found a mile-and-a-half away. She was declared dead, presumed murdered, in 1994, but no-one was ever convicted.

The owner of the house at the centre of police searches for Suzy Lamplugh's body confirmed he purchased the home from the mother of prime suspect John Cannan, the man jailed for life in 1989 for murdering 29-year-old newlywed Shirley Banks two years prior.

Phillip Carey, 52, said he bought 1 Shipton Road in Sutton Coldfield from Sheila Cannan some 26 years ago. Officers arrived at the site on Monday, he added.

Mr Carey said: "From our point of view, we bought the house 26 years ago, from the suspected person's mother, Sheila.

"We knew who she was, we became aware who she was as we went through the relationship, and obviously it was high profile at the time."

Mr Carey said officers also searched a similar area at the property in 2003.

Cannan was named as the prime suspect in Ms Lamplugh’s death in 2002 and questioned a number of times.

A Met spokesman said: “Officers from the Met are currently carrying out a search at a premises in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

“The search follows information received in relation to a historical unsolved investigation being led by the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.”

Officers from West Midlands Police are supporting Scotland Yard.

The Met made clear that the current occupants of the property were not connected to the investigation.

Additional reporting by PA