Lesley Whittle, left £82,000 in her father's will, was snatched from her bed at the family home in Highley.

Her mother was asleep in the house at the time.

Police were called in after Lesley's brother, Ronald, received a ransom demand for £50,000.

The Whittle family run one of the biggest private coach companies in the country, based at Highley and Kidderminster.

Ronald Whittle followed the kidnapper's instructions to take the money to a telephone box and await further instructions there, but he was late making the rendez-vous and no-one came to meet him.

'Kidnapping only explanation'

Hundreds of police are now scouring the area for clues. They have begun door-to-door inquiries and sniffer dogs are also being used.

Police say they are treating the ransom demand as a possible hoax.

But they are still hopeful of finding Lesley alive.

Lesley's boyfriend says kidnapping is "the only possible explanation" for her disappearance.

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