Two held on suspicion of 1992 murder

Police investigating the disappearance of a female TV extra have arrested two people on suspicion of murdering a man more than 20 years ago.

Officers have been searching remote farmland near Hexham, Northumberland, for Janet Brown, who has not been seen since 2005.

Northumbria Police said they have now arrested a 59-year-old Tynedale man and a 44-year-old man from Newcastle on suspicion of murdering Michael Straughan, who was 38 when he disappeared from the city in 1992.

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Numerous inquiries, including an appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch show, drew a blank.

Det Chief Insp Nicola Musgrove said: “We are unable to go into more details but at this stage there is no obvious link between Michael Straughan and Janet Brown.”

Last Monday police announced they were searching a 40-acre farm for Ms Brown’s body. It emerged a 59-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of her murder in December and later bailed pending further inquiries.