The Metropolitan Police are following up a new lead that places a missing London mother-of-three in a local beauty spot just days before her disappearance.

Detectives have interviewed regulars at the Saracen's Head pub, Symonds Yat, near Ross, following reports that 34-year-old Leza McCormack was seen drinking there a week before she vanished.

Earlier this spring, detectives were in Much Marcle, near Ledbury, after a mystery car was traced to the village.

The blue Ford Fiesta disappeared from the Finchley street where Mrs McCormack lived. It was taken just days after she disappeared.

The car turned up in Ruardean on February 25 and officers recovered a spade from inside the vehicle.

The car's Forest of Dean owner, described by police as "an innocent party", said he has obtained the vehicle in a car swap with a man who had been staying at Much Marcle.

Sam Hart, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, said: "The car and the spade are still undergoing forensic tests and we are still awaiting the results. At the moment we have nothing to link the car with Leza in any way.

"Concerning the Symonds Yat lead, we have obviously interviewed people who believe they saw Leza in the pub and we will follow up enquires. The main thing is where she may have gone and what happened to her since. This is still an investigation into a missing person. There is no evidence of murder but we are extremely concerned about her."

Mrs McCormack disappeared on January 28 and missed her son Rory's birthday on January 31. Her bank account has not been touched since she disappeared. She is described as 5ft 11in with brown hair and green eyes. She was wearing blue jeans, a light-coloured jacket and trainers.