POLICE are investigating witness reports of seeing a young woman lying in the boot of a car in St Albans on Friday, June 28.

Two members of the public saw a red car drive into The Park in Marshalswick at 3.45pm when the boot flew open to reveal a young woman in her late teens or early 20's lying in the back.

The driver stopped the car and a young man got out to shut the boot. He got back into the vehicle and headed in the direction of Faircross Way. A second man was also believed to be in the vehicle.

Detective Inspector Hugh Borgeat said: "Based on what was seen by both witnesses, we are taking this incident extremely seriously.

"We want to know of anyone who has gone missing recently but has not been reported to police or if anyone else saw this car in The Park or in that area on Friday.

"Until we get further information we will continue to treat this as a serious incident."

Anyone with information is asked to contact DI Borgeat on 01727 796061. Calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively, you can ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

July 3, 2002 14:30