Other News In Brief

Four Injured In M25 Minibus Crash

Four people have been injured after a minibus overturned on the M25 in Surrey. Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident, between junctions 7 and 8, shortly before 4:30pm on Wednesday. It is understood that the Easybus mini-coach was carrying four passengers and a driver when it overturned.One patient suffered serious leg injuries, while the others were treated for minor injuries.

Claudia Lawrence Search Scaled Back

North Yorkshire Police have announced that the investigation into missing chef Claudia Lawrence will be scaled back. Miss Lawrence, 35, from York, was last seen on March 18 last year. Her disappearance is being treated as suspected murder. At the height of the investigation, around 100 officers were involved in the case, but now around 16 officers are assigned to the investigation and its has been confirmed that this will be reduced again to seven next month. A statement issued by police said: "North Yorkshire police have conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence. The investigation has included the deployment of specialist resources for a considerable period of time. During the past sixteen months, as leads are followed, investigated and actions completed, we are now in position where there is no longer a requirement for the level of resources allocated to the inquiry." The investigation remains open and police said that the reduction in resources would be "gradual" as lines of enquiry are completed. A dedicated response team and phone number will be allocated in order to respond to any calls received as the result of Channel 4 documentary on the case, which is due to be shown on August 13. Anyone with any information is asked to contact: 0845 60 60 24 7 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.

New Leads In 1989 Unidentified Body Case

Police trying to identify the body of a man found dead in Scarborough more than twenty years ago are following new leads after a recent appeal. The body of a middle-aged man was found in the town's harbour on May 4, 1989. A witness, now living in Scarborough had some forward to say that he recognised the man from the 1980s when he was living in Blackburn. Police said that the witness recalled the man from visiting pubs in the Shadsworth and Intack areas of Blackburn. He couldn't recall the man's name, but said he spoke with a local accent and was something of a loner. The witness also said he may have known the man from serving time in prison around the Blackburn area, possibly in Kirkham prison. He was estimated at being aged between 30 and 60 years of age, white, clean shaven, weighing approximately 12 stone, 5ft 10ins tall, with brown eyes. He had a full head of black collar length hair, which was starting to turn grey and was possibly combed into a centre parting. His teeth were all natural with fillings and gold capping. Pathologists also found a scar and swelling just above his left ankle, which were caused by a fracture that had not healed properly and could have caused him to walk with a limp. When he was found, he was wearing dark brown cotton trousers, a plain beige cotton shirt, grey slip-on shows, black socks, a long green nylon anorak with a zipped hood and a Sekonda wrist watch. It is believed that the man had connections in Greater manchester, Blackburn, Todmorden and Calderdale and that he stayed in a hotel in Scarborough for two nights and left on May 1, 1989, the day he was last seen alive. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on: 0845 60 60 24 7.

(KMcA)