FRENCH police stepped up their investigation into the disappearance of a former Darwen woman by sending officers to Britain.

The team were assisted by Lancashire police as they toured East Lancashire gathering information about 53-year-old Evelyn Lund over the weekend.

The mother-of-three vanished in the south of France four months ago. Her family, including daughter Patricia Taylor, 30, of Franklin Road, Witton, Blackburn, are convinced she has been murdered.

Patricia spent May Day with the colonel heading the investigation, an English-speaking French officer, and an officer from Rawtenstall.

She said: "They haven't been able to tell us anything new but we hope their time will help."

A spokeswoman for Lancashire police said: "French police have been in Lancashire for the last few days. They left the county yesterday morning to make inquiries elsewhere in Britain.

Local officers were attached to them while they were in Lancashire in a purely liaison role."

Mr Lund and her Toyota Landcruiser were last seen on December 29. Her disappearance sparked a major police operation which included a search of the couple's home and the surrounding countryside. Posters have also been distributed throughout the country and the authorities in Spain have been alerted.

Evelyn's second husband, Robert Lund, a former tree protection officer with Blackburn Council, was questioned for 24 hours last month.

The couple moved from Winter Hill, Darwen, to start a new life in a luxury converted barn near Montpellier four years ago.

Patricia added: "We haven't been in contact with Robert since he was taken in for questioning."