Two held in case of woman last seen in 1999

A man and a woman have been detained by police investigating the disappearance of a woman who has not been seen for almost 18 years.

Last October her two carers reported Margaret Fleming, 36, missing from her home in Main Road, Inverkip, Inverclyde – however, the last independent sighting of her was at a family event on December 17 1999.

Police forensic teams spent months sifting through the house Ms Fleming lived in for any documentation of her life and a large garden at the property was excavated as part of the search.

Police Scotland have now confirmed two people had been detained in connection with the investigation.

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

She then lived with her grandparents and her mother, but later moved in with carers in 1997 and has been estranged from her mother since.

Her carers, Eddie Cairney and Avril Jones, said they had spoken to the missing woman recently.

Ms Fleming, who is believed to have learning difficulties, had only been seen by her carers since 1999, before they reported her missing.

The report was made after police visited the five-bedroom cottage at Inverkip, Inverclyde, said to be over inquiries from a benefits agency.

Mr Cairney, 75, said he has spoken to her since then, claiming she had been in London and Poland.

Ms Fleming is described as 5ft 5in with a heavy build, collarlength black hair and brown eyes.

When reported missing on October 28 last year, she was said to be wearing a green tartan fleece, dark trousers, dark Karrimor boots and was carrying a handbag.

Margaret Fleming has not been seen since 1999.