INDIAN cricketers who were competing at an international women's tournament in Colwall have gone missing.

Five members of a 16-woman squad have disappeared from the London houses where they were staying during the six-day tournament, which finished on Friday.

It is not known if the disappearance is a sightseeing trip or an attempt to remain in the country.

The squad, from Jalandhar, in north west India, were due to take part in games for the entire tournament.

But a day before the competition began they warned organiser Coral Handley that because they were travelling from London, they would only be available for the first two days.

Once they did arrive, Mrs Handley said she had her suspicions about five of the group.

"They were all out for a good time and for the cricket apart from five of them. I don't know if they were the same five but they raised our suspicions," she said.

"They were just in a little group sneaking about. They weren't quite as team-orientated as the rest of them."

She added that the squad members all had visas that last another three weeks.

The Metropolitan Police said they had launched a missing persons inquiry after five of the squad, aged between 19 and 25, had gone missing on August 12.

The tournament, one of the biggest all-women cricket competitions held in Britain, proved a success.

"The newcomers thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a lot about cricket, said Mrs Handley. "They will be looking forward to coming next year."