Detectives narrow their search for missing woman

Sian O'Callaghan disappeared after leaving a nightclub in Swindon on Saturday (PA)

Detectives searching for the missing Sian O'Callaghan said they were "getting very close" to identifying her whereabouts and have urged family and friends not to search the area for fear they may compromise significant lines of inquiry.

Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher, who is leading the search for Miss O'Callaghan, 22, – who vanished after leaving a nightclub on Saturday in her home town of Swindon – said: "We have made good progress in narrowing the search using a number of technologies and techniques. I believe we are getting very close to identifying Sian's whereabouts.

"The inquiry moves on at a rapid pace, with significant lines of inquiry being developed," he added. It is not known precisely what technologies and techniques police have employed, but officers reduced their search yesterday to Savernake Forest near Marlborough, Wiltshire, because the final signals from Miss O'Callaghan's mobile phone came from there.

Hundreds of volunteers had arrived to help police comb 4,500 acres of woodland for Miss O'Callaghan. She was last seen at 2.50am on Saturday leaving the Suju nightclub in Swindon, 12 miles away.