Margaret Jean Smythe: Police searching for missing Bolton woman find a body
Two men are in custody on suspicion of murder after Maggie Smythe went missing from her home in a neighbourhood in Bolton.
Friday 1 February 2019 21:51, UK
Police searching for a woman who went missing last month have found a body.
Margaret Jean Smythe, known as Maggie, was last seen at her home in Swinside Road, Breightmet - a neighbourhood of Bolton in Greater Manchester - on Saturday 26 January.
Detectives discovered a body close to Red Lane on Friday, about half a mile away - two days after two men, 35 and 39, were arrested on suspicion of murder.
The younger man has been released with no further action, while the other remains in custody alongside a 29-year-old man also arrested on suspicion of murder earlier on Friday.
Formal identification of the body has not taken place, but the family of Ms Smythe, 29, have been informed of the find.
District Superintendent Rick Jackson said: "I understand this may cause some concern in the community, but I want to reassure people that we are doing everything we can to establish the full circumstances of what has happened.
"We currently have two men in custody, and we do not believe there to be any direct threat to the wider community.
"Our officers will be continuing with enquiries in the area over the next few days, and if you have any questions, worries or concerns I would encourage you to speak to them."
:: Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 9908, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.