Detectives in Susan Waring murder probe searching two new properties

The 45-year-old's disappearance is being treated as a murder and as part of their enquiries officers had been searching a property on Blackburn Road.

Having finished combing through that property they are today conducting searches at two other properties in the town - one in Snape Street in Darwen.

Det Ch Insp Geoff Hurst said: “I have a team of detectives working extremely hard on this case, to find out what happened to Susan and where she may be.

“We have concluded our searches at one address in the Blackburn Road area and would like to thank residents for their patience as officers have been coming and going from the property over the last week and a half.

“We will now be looking at two further properties in the Darwen area.

“We appreciate that this is a very difficult time for Susan’s family and we are doing everything we can to get them some answers, while family liaison officers are supporting them throughout this investigation.”

Sgt Craig Jarrett added: "We are carrying out a search of a property on Snape Street in Darwen in relation to the Susan Waring investigation.

"Further searches are to be completed. The investigation is ongoing."

One resident said: "I've seen police outside the property since 9am today.

"There was a police car and two vans.

"Police used a key to get in - no one had to kick the door in."

It was initially thought that Ms Waring was last seen on January 30 at around 10pm, leaving a property in Blackburn Road.

However, the last corroborated sighting of her was at a doctor’s surgery on James Street West on the afternoon of January 16.

Ms Waring is described as being around 5ft 5ins, of small build, with brown eyes and collar-length, curly, brown hair. She speaks with a North West accent and has tattoos on both arms and legs, including smiley faces on her legs.

Det Ch Insp Hurst added: “No one has seen or heard from Susan for weeks which is very unusual. She is often in touch with her sister, and is an active Facebook user but has not logged on since towards the end of January.

“If you have any information whatsoever that could help us locate her, please get in touch as soon as possible.”

A 46 year old man who was arrested on suspicion of her murder has since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident reference LC-20190320-0963.