Body of girl, 11, found in flat

DETECTIVES in Merseyside last night launched a murder investigation after the body of a missing schoolgirl was found under the stairs in a flat in Wallasey, 60 yards from her father's home. They are particularly anxious to trace Malcolm Frosdick, 58, the flat's absent tenant, writes Simon Midgley.

Sarah Rigby, 11, had gone to her father's house from Kingsway primary school on Wednesday. At 3.45 she went out to play with a friend, still wearing her school uniform of a navy-blue skirt and white jumper under a purple and green anorak.

She was expected back by 5pm. Her father, Jimmy, and mother, Brenda - who is separated from Mr Rigby but was at the house - raised the alarm at about 7pm. Her body was found at 10.15am yesterday when police forced their way into a flat above a former cycle shop in Brighton Street, Seacombe.

A post-mortem examination established that Sarah had been strangled and had been sexually assaulted.

(Photograph omitted)