Two men charged with 1991 murder of Coventry woman Nicola Payne

Two men have been charged with the murder of a Coventry woman who went missing 23 years ago.

Nigel Barwell, 51, and Thomas O'Reilly, 50, both from Coventry, are due to appear in court accused of the murder of Nicola Payne, who was last seen on 14 December 1991 when she was 18.

Both men were originally arrested in December 2013 in connection with the 18-year-old's disappearance.

The pair have been released on conditional bail until their before Birmingham Magistrates Court on 28 January.

The mother-of-one Payne was last seen walking from her boyfriend's house to her parents' home 23 years ago.

The investigation into her disappearance was re-opened in 2012 after new information which came to light.

Last December, officers revealed a breakthrough in the inquiry and that a number of items had been sent for forensic testing.

Detective inspector Martin Slevin, who is leading the investigations said: "Today's charges follow months of extensive enquiries by a team of dedicated officers who are investigating the disappearance of Nicola. But I want to reassure Nicola's family and the local community that the search for Nicola will continue.

"Over the past year a number of sites have been searched and these investigations will carry on.

"I would like to thank the local community for their support and those people who have come forward to provide information about Nicola's disappearance. I believe that there are still people out there with vital information yet to come forward and I appeal to them directly to contact us on 101 or confidentially Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. We will always assess and act on any new information."

A West Midlands Police spokesperson added a 52-year-old year old woman who was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice has been released without charge.