Lancashire Police has confirmed that the search for a missing woman from Burnley is still ongoing, but officers believe she is “no longer alive”.
33-year-old mother of two Katie Kenyon, from the Padiham area of Burnley, was reported as missing after last being seen last Friday 22 April, and more than 60 specialist search officers from four local police forces have been scouring parts of Gisburn Forest in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley.
Police confirmed that at about 9.30am on Friday, a woman matching Ms Kenyon’s description left an address on Todmorden Road in Burnley with a man, and travelled in a silver Ford Transit – with the registration MT57 FLC – to the Bolton-by-Bowland area of north Lancashire.
Ms Kenyon is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, and was last wearing a blue cardigan, a light blue and white top, black leggings, and flip flops.
Her family say that her disappearance is “out of character”.
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A man arrested on suspicion of the kidnap of Katie Kenyon has this afternoon been further arrested on suspicion of her murder.
Whilst Katie has not yet been found we are now working on the basis that she is sadly no longer alive.
Officers from the Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales police forces are currently searching the Gisburn Forest area – which is the largest wooded area in the county, measuring 1,200 hectares.
Police forces are being assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team.
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A photograph of the van – which Ms Kenyon was last seen getting into, and has since been found in Burnley – has been released, and Lancashire Police is continuing to appeal for anyone who saw the vehicle, or has dashcam footage, to come forward with information.
It comes after it was confirmed on Monday (25 April) that a 50-year-old man, who was initially arrested on suspicion of her kidnap, has now been further arrested on suspicion of her murder, and detectives are this evening making a further application to Burnley Magistrates Court to continue his detention to 9pm tomorrow (Wednesday 27 April)
Katie’s family have been informed of the latest developments and continue to be supported by specially trained officers, Lancashire Police says.
The silver Ford Transit van that Katie Kenyon was last seen getting into, with the registration MT57 FLC / Credit: Lancashire Police
In the latest statement released, Lancashire Police says it is now “working on the basis that [Ms Kenyon] is sadly no longer alive”.
Det Supt 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 and 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.”
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He added that he is “really grateful” for all the help that members of the public have given so far, and says he continues to appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward and speak to officers.
“While we do have someone under arrest our enquiries are very much on-going.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log 800 of 24 April, or you can contact Lancashire Police through the Major Incident Public Portal. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Lancashire Police
News
Oasis finally confirm ‘private ballot’ ticket information for reunion tour
Daisy Jackson
Oasis have just announced more information about how tickets will be sold through a ‘private ballot’ for their extra reunion tour dates.
The group added two additional shows at Wembley Stadium after their initial 17 gigs across London, Manchester, Dublin, Edinburgh and Cardiff generated huge demand and sold out in a day.
Oasis and Ticketmaster came under fire though for the use of dynamic pricing, which saw ticket prices shoot up by hundreds of pounds by the time people made it through the online queues.
For these additional reunion tour dates at Wembley, ticket sales will look a little different.
They’ll be using a ‘private ballot’, which will give first dibs to those who missed out on the first ticket sale.
You’ll only be invited to register for the sale if you signed into your Ticketmaster account on Saturday 31 August, and joined a queue for a specific show.
And you’ll only receive an invitation if you DIDN’T manage to bag tickets the first time round.
THEN you’ll be able to register for the actual ballot, which still doesn’t guarantee you a ticket but does at least get you into a (hopefully less lengthy) queue.
“Invitations to enter the private ballot will be sent overnight tonight (Saturday) to eligible fans we have been able to identify.
“If you signed into your Ticketmaster UK account on Saturday, 31st August, and were able to join a queue for a specific show, but didn’t get a ticket-then you may be eligible to take part and will receive an email on how to register for the ballot.
“Keep an eye on the inbox associated with your Ticketmaster account, and don’t forget to check your junkmail.
“Once successfully registered, you will be entered into the ballot for a code for access to the final Wembley on sale.
“Due to the demand for the shows and to avoid last week’s long queues, codes will be strictly limited. Entry to the ballot does not guarantee you will receive a code.
“The ballot is only open to invited fans. You must register with the email to which your invitation was sent and which is registered with your Ticketmaster account.
“All other entries will be discounted. If you do not receive an email then unfortunately you will not be eligible for the ballot.
“You will be automatically discounted from the ballot, even if you go through the registration process.”
Featured image: Simon Emmett
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Manchester Airport named UK’s worst in annual Which? survey for third year running
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Airport has officially been declared the worst airport in the UK, according to a new survey by Which?… yet again.
The summer travel season may be drawing to a close now, with hundreds of flights having taken off and landed in our region over the last couple of months, but for any Greater Manchester holidaymakers who are still yet to jet off, an annual ranking by consumer choice group Which? has proved to be pretty grim reading.
That’s because several terminals at the UK’s third largest airport have found themselves at the bottom of the list in Which? latest findings.
Manchester Airport has hit back at the survey and defended itself, saying its own passenger surveys suggest people are “much more positive” about the airport, adding that it was “proud to give people in all parts of the North easy and affordable access to nearly 200 different destinations across the world”.
For its annual survey, Which? spoke to nearly 7,000 passengers to gather feedback about their experiences of flying from UK airports over the last 12 months, and asked them to score the airports across 11 categories.
Manchester Airport has been named the worst in the UK for the third year running / Credit: The Manc Group
Some of these categories including seating, staff, toilets, and of course, the queues we all dread at check in, bag drop, passport control, and security.
And just like in both 2022 and again in 2023, it was Manchester Airport Terminal 3 that ranked right at the bottom, receiving the lowest customer satisfaction score of 37%.
Manchester Terminal 1 ranked one place above that with a score of 40%, while Manchester Terminal 2 was a little further up the the list with a score of 51%, and just saw Luton Airport, London Stansted, and Belfast International Airport sandwiched in between it.
According to Which?, some of the complaints it received about Manchester Airport from passengers who responded to the survey this year was that older people struggled with long walks due to travelators being broken since 2021, difficulties with finding a seat, and “horrendous” queues with people apparently being “corralled like cattle”.
As mentioned though, Manchester Airport has slammed Which?’s findings in a formal statement.
The UK’s third largest airport has hit back at the survey results and defended itself / Credit:
Describing the survey as “disappointing to see”, Manchester Airport’s statement reads: “We understand not every experience is perfect and want all passengers to feel able to raise their concerns directly with us. That is why we speak to them on a daily basis, surveying hundreds of people a month to get in-the-moment feedback from a full range of perspectives.
“That is in stark contrast to Which?, which conducted a tiny and unrepresentative survey of its members six months ago, asking them to recollect airport experiences that could have been as far back in time as April 2023.
“Which? fully understands that its readers form a narrow group of passengers whose views cannot in any way be taken to represent those of the travelling public at large, but chooses to promote its survey findings as if they do.”
Manchester Airport says it’s disappointing see Which? “chase cheap headlines” with its “sensational and over-simplified characterisation of airports” and the different roles they play, adding: “To make matters worse, it has printed inaccurate statements about our facilities and security waiting times that paint a more negative picture than reality.