A man has appeared in court accused of murder as police continue searching for a missing woman from Lancashire.
Katie Kenyon, 33, has not been seen since last Friday when she got into a van in her home town of Burnley. Police believe she has been killed and are looking for her body.
Andrew Burfield, 50, of Burnley, made a brief appearance at Blackburn magistrates court charged with Kenyon’s murder.
Burfield spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the three-minute hearing. He was remanded into custody until Friday when he will appear at Preston crown court.
Kenyon, from Padiham, Burnley, was last seen at about 9.30am last Friday when it is thought she travelled in a Ford Transit van that left the town heading towards the Bolton-by-Bowland area of Lancashire.
On Wednesday, police carried out searches in Gisburn Forest, a remote beauty spot in east Lancashire. More than 60 specialist search officers from four police forces scoured the area of dense forest looking for Kenyon. The hunt involved police and fire service officers, dog teams, mounted police, mountain rescue volunteers and drones.
Kenyon is described as white, 5ft 9in, with shoulder-length strawberry blonde/ginger hair. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt or jacket and white vest top, black leggings and flip-flops.
Her family, who say her disappearance is out of character, are being supported by specially trained officers.
