Police officers have started digging at the side of the A19 for the remains of a woman who was killed ten years ago.

Rania Alayed, 25, died after she was killed by her husband Ahmed Al-Khatib in 2013.

Prosecutors said he murdered the woman at his brother’s flat in Salford, before trying to dupe Rania's family into thinking she was still alive. 

Read more: Investigation after body found at Roker Marina in Sunderland

The body of the Syrian-born mum-of-three has still not been found more than ten years after she was killed.

Extensive searches have taken place throughout the years, including one on a BBC documentary that looked for answers for Rania's family.

The Northern Echo: Rania AlayedRania Alayed (Image: GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE)

At the time, Al-Khatib said he had buried her between trees near the A19 in Thirsk.

According to Greater Manchester Police, specialist officers have now begun to dig at the site.

A spokesperson for the police force said: “We are carrying out a detailed search in relation to recovering the body of Rania Alayed.

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"Following new information from a non-recent investigation, GMP’s Major Incident Team have been authorised to begin looking at land on the side of the A19 near Thirsk.

“Officers will be on location to carry out a thorough search of the area identified and will keep disruption to the local community to a minimum, with no wider risk or threat to the public.

"GMP remain committed to finding Rania and will act on all available lines of enquiry when it is possible to do so to help bring some form of closure to her loved ones ten years on.”