THE hunt for the body of a missing mother-of-three is focusing on laybys beside one of the region's busiest roads.

After receiving numerous calls from motorists, police said they believe the body of Rania Alayed, 25, who went missing in June after moving from Teesside to Manchester in January, could be hidden or buried on an overgrown strip of land beside the northbound A19.

Dozens of officers from the Greater Manchester and North Yorkshire forces today (Thursday, August 15) conducted a fingertip search of a layby, between the A170 and A168 junctions near Thirsk.

Lines of officers wearing protective suits used poles and metal detectors to sweep aside long grass and thistles, progressing at a pace of about five yards a minute, only pausing to examine pieces of litter in the undergrowth.

A police spokesman said searches will continue on this stretch of road for a number of days.

He said the search, which will include a 19-mile stretch of the A19, north and south of Thirsk, has included RAF and Army personnel and a spotter plane and may take weeks to complete.

Officers recently contacted 350 motorists to help trace a white camper van that could have been used in the disappearance of Ms Alayed, who previously lived in Greta Road, Norton, Stockton, and in Middlesbrough.

It is believed the Leyland DAF 200 vehicle stopped at an unidentified lay-by between 3am and 5am on Saturday, June 8.

Detective Superintendent Serena Kennedy, said: “The police and the military have been working tirelessly to find Rania and we will not stop until we can find her.

“I would also like to thank the public for their tremendous response to this so far.”

Ahmed Khatib, 33, from Gorton, Manchester, and brother-in-law, Muhammed Mahmood al Khatib, 38, of Arthur Millwood Court, Salford, have been charged with murder.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how Greater Manchester Police dealt with previous contact with Ms Alayed.

The inquiry is focusing on how the force treated allegations of domestic violence, child protection issues and claims of honour-based violence.