Margaret Fleming carers appear in court charged with abduction and murder

The former carers of a woman who has not been seen for almost 18 years have appeared in court charged with her abduction and murder.

Margaret Fleming, 36, was reported missing in October last year from her home in Main Road, Inverkip, Inverclyde, but police said the last independent sighting of her was actually at a family event in December 1999.

A major investigation was launched into her disappearance and76 year-old Edward Cairney and 57 year-old Avril Jones were arrested on Thursday.

They were both charged with murder, abduction and assault, fraud, and an attempt to defeat the ends of justice during a private hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday, the Crown Office said.

They made no plea and were remanded in custody with a further court appearance expected next month.

Ms Fleming is thought to have lived with her father in Port Glasgow before he died in October 1995.

She is then said to have lived with her grandparents and her mother, but later moved in with carers in 1997