Detectives today launched a major hunt for a missing 40-year-old Shropshire woman who they fear may have “come to harm” after disappearing five days ago.

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Fifty police officers have been drafted in to search for Mandy Franks, of Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, and will be led by Detective Chief Inspector Jon Groves, who oversaw the investigation into the fire at Maesbrook, near Oswestry, which claimed the lives of the Foster family. 

Miss Franks disappeared without a trace after failing to return home after a night out in the county town on Saturday.

She has not been seen since leaving Reflex nightclub. Police are trying to trace two men who may have spoken to Miss Franks and could hold vital information. 

Detective Chief Inspector Groves said today: “We have not been able to confirm any positive sightings of her after about 10.15pm on Saturday. We are becoming increasingly concerned for her safety. It is possible she has come to harm – we just do not know at this stage.“

“We are appealing for information which might help the investigation and have several leads which we hope the public can help us with.”

It is known Miss Franks and her partner attended Frank Cafe Bar in Frankwell, Shrewsbury, on Saturday. She left the bar at about 10pm walking across the Welsh Bridge to the nearby Montgomery’s Tower pub in Lower Claremont Street, arriving there about 10.15pm.

Inspector Groves said police were fairly certain that Miss Franks later left Montgomery’s Tower walking to the Reflex nightclub just a few yards away.

He said that a woman, believed to be Mandy, was approached by a man with a ponytail as she was going to the dance floor, probably between 1am and 2am.  

It is also believed a second man approached her shortly before 2am, placing his hand gently on her arm. 

He is described as white, aged 30 to 35, of stocky build, about 5ft 10ins tall with dark brown hair.

Police are urging the men to contact the Major Incident Room at Shrewsbury CID on 08457 444888.

By Rhea Parsons