Abducted woman found dead

A murder hunt has been launched after the body of a woman thought abducted was found in the boot of her car.

A murder hunt has been launched after the body of a woman thought abducted was found in the boot of her car.

Police believe Megan Margerison, 53, was kidnapped by a former boyfriend.

They have named John Steele, 49, Higher Walton, near Preston, as the man they want to question.

She disappeared from her daughter's home in Ribbleton, Lancashire, yesterday evening.

Her body was found today in her Citroen Saxo parked in a street in Blackpool, Lancashire. She is believed to have been stabbed.

Detectives said earlier that Mr Steele and Mrs Margerison had a two-year relationship that ended in June.

It was understood that he had recently been suffering from severe depression.

The large-scale hunt was launched after police officers found Mrs Margerison's body in her T-registered, blue Saxo in the resort's Buchanan Street at 10.30am.

She was last seen driving away from her daughter's home with Mr Steele at 9pm yesterday.

Police said they were taking the "unusual step" of naming Mr Steele as the man they wanted to question.

He is described as 5ft 4ins tall, of stocky build, with short, receding, mousey hair. When last seen he was wearing a blue fleece and dark blue jeans.

"We are very interested in talking to Mr Steele and finding out where he is," said Detective Superintendent Graham Gooch, the man leading the hunt.