Police searching for missing Katie Kenyon believe she is dead – and have arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

A statement from Lancashire Police said: “Whilst Katie has not yet been found we are now working on the basis that she is sadly no longer alive.”

It added that a man initially arrested on suspicion of her kidnap, has been further arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Detective Superintendent Gary Brooks, Lancashire Police’s Head of Major Crime, said: “While I hold some slim hope that Katie may still be found alive I’m sad to say that Katie has now been missing for over four days.

“Despite extensive police enquiries and media appeals we have not found Katie nor have there been any sightings of Katie.

“We have spoken to Katie’s family today and they are understandably extremely upset by this latest development and I have officers continuing to offer them support. My thoughts are with them at this time.

“I am really grateful for all the help that members of the public have given us so far and I would continue to appeal to anyone who has any information, however small, to come forward and speak to us. While we do have someone under arrest our enquiries are very much on-going.

Katie Kenyon: Police ‘increasingly concerned’ for missing woman last seen getting into van after man is arrested

Katie Kenyon: Man arrested as police search for missing woman last seen getting into van

“We are continuing to search a number of different locations in connection with this investigation, including at Gisburn Forest and I am grateful to colleagues from Merseyside and North Wales, and other emergency service partners who are offering assistance in the these complex and wide-scale searches.”

Katie Kenyon, 33, was reported missing after being last seen at around 9.30am on Friday.

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