Police have started digging scrubland near a river in the search for the body of a missing mum - 20 years after she disappeared on her way to work.

Malgorzata Wnuczek, who was aged 27 at the time, vanished on May 31, 2006 and her whereabouts still remains unknown.

The Polish national was last seen after catching a bus from her workplace at Peter Jackson Logistics into Leicester city centre.

The last contact the mum had with her family, who called her Gosia, was via text message two days before.

Ten years later, in 2016, both her loved ones and police made an appeal for information which failed to find her.

Another search was launched in June 2023 following information provided by Polish police to the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

Police divers spent days scouring a stretch of the River Soar in a bid to find personal possessions or potentially a body - but nothing was found.

At the time, a 39-year-old man was arrested in Greater Manchester on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice and later released with no further action.

Leicestershire Police said they had since received further information from colleagues in Poland.

The force's Tactical Support Team (TST) has now started digging on scrubland off the Great Central Way - a walking and cycle route near the river.

Detective Superintendent Jenni Greenway, the senior investigating officer, said: "While I cannot go into specific details at this time, we have received information that human remains could be buried in this area which could potentially help us establish what happened to Malgorzata."

"Our teams will remain in the area over the coming weeks and I'd again like to take the opportunity to ask anyone who might be able to help us to come forward. "

"I remain firm in my belief that there may be people still living in the city who know what happened to her. "

"In particular, I'm extending this appeal to our Polish community."

"For nearly 20 years now, Malgorzata's family have lived their lives not knowing what happened to her and we owe it to them to answer the questions they have."

Anyone with information is asked to visit https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ and quote incident 362 of June 2 2023.

Alternatively call 101.