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The parents of Leah Croucher have visited the house where police searching for her found human remains along with her rucksack and other personal items.

A message with the flowers laid by Claire and John Croucher said they would “cherish her memories forever”.

An estate car arrives at a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes, where police have identified human remains during forensic examinations in the search for missing teenager Leah Croucher who disappeared while walking to work in February 2019. Officers from Thames Valley Police began searching the house after a tip-off from a member of the public on Monday, and launched a murder inquiry when they found a rucksack and other personal belongings of Ms Croucher's. Picture date: Thursday October 13, 2022.
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Claire and John Croucher arrive at the house and leave flowers and a note saying: “Our darkest fears have come true”
A tribute outside a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes, where police have identified human remains during forensic examinations in the search for missing teenager Leah Croucher who disappeared while walking to work in February 2019. Officers from Thames Valley Police began searching the house after a tip-off from a member of the public on Monday, and launched a murder inquiry when they found a rucksack and other personal belongings of Ms Croucher's. Picture date: Thursday October 13, 2022.
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Another tribute outside the property

It said: “Our darkest fears have come true, we only need to be apart a little longer. We have so missed you for so long already.

“The future looks so bleak now we know we will never see your smile or hear your laughter again. We will cherish your memories forever. We love you. Mum and Dad xx xx”.

Forensic experts are still at the house and blue tarpaulin remains in the back garden of the house in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes. Detectives have put up a tent in front of the house and a tall black screen shields the scene from the street.

An aerial view of the rear of a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes
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An aerial view of the rear of a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes
Police in forensic suits at the scene in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes
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Police found human remains at the scene in Loxbeare Drive on Wednesday

The search for Ms Croucher, who vanished in 2019, is focusing on a house less than half a mile from where she was last seen.

Her grandparents left yellow roses near the house with a handwritten note saying: “Our darling, we will never stop seeking answers. Will love and miss you always.”

Other mourners laid a large wreath of white lilies and pink roses. A bunch of yellow, pink and red roses addressed to “our beautiful darling” had a note which said: “While our hopes and dreams to find you safe and well have been stolen from us a new hope for answers and justice is now part of our path to fight ahead.

“We promise you with all our hearts that we will never ever give up fighting for you. All our love always and forever.”

Pic: Thames Valley Police
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Leah Croucher vanished on her way to work in 2019
A tribute left near a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes
A tribute left near a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes

On Wednesday Thames Valley Police said that they had found human remains at the property and investigators would be there for some time.

A police spokesman said: “Monday was the first time we were alerted to this property by a member of the public in connection with this investigation.

“However, as an address in Furzton, the address was visited as part of our house-to-house inquiries as part of the investigation, during which we visited more than 4,000 addresses.

“There was no response at the property and as such leaflets would have been dropped through the letterbox.”

Ms Croucher was last seen on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, just after 8.15am on 15 February 2019 as she walked towards Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way on her way to work at a finance company.

CCTV of Leah Croucher arriving for work the day before she went missing
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Leah Croucher was seen on CCTV arriving for work the day before she went missing

Hundreds of officers have search for Ms Croucher over the past three and a half years. They have scoured 1,200 hours of CCTV and carried out 4,000 house-to-house inquiries.

Ms Croucher’s parents have previously described the disappearance of their “beautiful and wonderful daughter” as “highly unusual”, adding: “We still have no answers as to why.”

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Man, 76, arrested on suspicion of administering poison at summer camp after eight children taken to hospital

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Man, 76, arrested on suspicion of administering poison at summer camp after eight children taken to hospital

A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison at a summer camp which led to eight children being taken to hospital, police said.

Police received reports of children feeling unwell at a summer camp in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire, on Monday.

Paramedics assessed eight children, who were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all now been discharged.

The suspect was arrested at the camp and remains in custody on suspicion of administering poison with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy.

Detective Inspector Neil Holden said: “We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community.

“We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.

“Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children’s services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.

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“We also remain at the scene to carry out enquiries into the circumstances of what has happened and to continue to provide advice and support in the area.

“This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can.”

The force said it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over what it said was the “circumstances of the initial police response”.

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‘No evidence’ malign activity caused Wednesday’s air traffic disruption, says transport secretary

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'No evidence' malign activity caused Wednesday's air traffic disruption, says transport secretary

There is no evidence that malign activity was responsible for yesterday’s outage of air traffic control systems, the transport secretary has said.

Heidi Alexander said she has spoken with the chief executive of National Air Traffic Service (NATS), Martin Rolfe, and added that what happened was an isolated incident.

NATS has apologised for the IT problems after thousands of passengers suffered extensive travel disruption during one of the busiest times of the year.

The technical glitch led to more than 150 flight cancellations, leaving airlines reacting furiously.

alexander
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander

Ms Alexander wrote on X: “I have spoken with NATS CEO Martin Rolfe who provided further detail on yesterday’s technical fault.

“This was an isolated event and there is no evidence of malign activity.

“I know that any disruption is frustrating for passengers.

“Flights are now resumed and I am grateful to airlines who are working hard to get people to where they need to be.

“I will continue to receive regular updates. Passengers should check with airlines before travelling.”

Read more: Flight delayed or cancelled? These are your rights

Officials said a “radar-related issue” caused the air traffic control failure.

A spokesperson for NATS said: “This was a radar-related issue which was resolved by quickly switching to the back-up system during which time we reduced traffic to ensure safety.

“There is no evidence that this was cyber related.”

The problem occurred at NATS’ control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, and affected the vast majority of England and Wales.

Aviation analytics company Cirium said 84 departures and 71 arrivals were cancelled to or from UK airports up to 10pm on Wednesday, with several flights diverted to other European airports.

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Travel expert Paul Charles: This is a major outage

There was limited disruption on Thursday, with a handful of British Airways flights cancelled because aircraft and crew were out of position.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports said they had resumed normal operations.

Affected passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation as the disruption was outside of airlines’ control, but they will be able to claim expenses for a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required.

Martin Rolfe in 2023. Pic: PA
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Martin Rolfe in 2023. Pic: PA

Ryanair has called on Mr Rolfe to resign, claiming “no lessons have been learnt” since a similar systems outage in August 2023.

The airline’s chief operating officer Neal McMahon said: “It is outrageous that passengers are once again being hit with delays and disruption due to Martin Rolfe’s continued mismanagement of Nats.”

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‘No lessons have been learned’: Airlines furious after another technical glitch cancels flights

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'No lessons have been learned': Airlines furious after another technical glitch cancels flights

Airlines have reacted furiously after a technical glitch in air traffic control systems led to more than 150 flight cancellations.

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) has apologised for the IT problems – and said systems were back up and running 20 minutes after the “radar-related issue” was detected at 4.05pm.

But with thousands of passengers suffering extensive travel disruption, during one of the busiest times of the year, airline executives have warned this isn’t good enough.

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Departures resume after ATC problem

Ryanair’s chief operating officer Neal McMahon has called for NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe to resign – and claimed Wednesday’s incident was “utterly unacceptable”.

He said: “It is outrageous that passengers are once again being hit with delays and disruption due to Martin Rolfe’s continued mismanagement of NATS.

“It is clear that no lessons have been learnt since the August 2023 NATS system outage, and passengers continue to suffer as a result of Martin Rolfe’s incompetence.”

Mr McMahon was referring to a glitch that affected more than 700,000 passengers two years ago – and said that, if Mr Rolfe refuses to step down, the government should intervene.

“Heidi Alexander must act without delay to remove Martin Rolfe and deliver urgent reform of NATS’ shambolic ATC service, so that airlines and passengers are no longer forced to endure these preventable delays caused by persistent NATS failures,” he added.

The Department for Transport says Ms Alexander does not have any direct control over NATS – and no powers over staffing decisions at the service.

Martin Rolfe in 2023. Pic: PA
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Martin Rolfe in 2023. Pic: PA

EasyJet’s chief operating officer David Morgan added: “It’s extremely disappointing to see an ATC failure once again causing disruption to our customers at this busy and important time of year for travel.

“While our priority today is supporting our customers, we will want to understand from NATS what steps they are taking to ensure issues don’t continue.”

NATS is yet to comment on the calls for Mr Rolfe’s resignation – but has stressed that the glitch is not believed to be “cyber related”.

“This was a radar-related issue which was resolved by quickly switching to the back-up system during which time we reduced traffic to ensure safety,” a spokesperson had said.

Departures at airports across the country have now resumed – but passengers are being urged to check with their airline before heading to terminals.

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Travel expert: This is a major outage

John Carr, from Stourbridge, was on his way from Heathrow to Norway to help arrange his brother’s wedding when he discovered his flight was cancelled after checking in.

“I’m pretty gutted,” he said. “We’ve got loads of stuff in the suitcases to set up the venue, because we’re obviously flying to Norway. We’ve got the wedding rehearsal to do. It’s quite stressful.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for an urgent investigation and also referred to the “utterly unacceptable” disruption two years earlier.

“With thousands of families preparing to go on a well-earned break, this just isn’t good enough. The public deserve to have full confidence in such a vital piece of national infrastructure.”

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Flights departing or arriving at a UK airport, or aircraft operated by a UK airline arriving in the EU, are subject to rules concerning delays or cancellations.

Airlines may have to provide compensation, although there are exemptions for “extraordinary circumstances”, according to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.

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