Media from around the country returned to the streets of Gloucester as "the very long shadow" of Fred West returned to the city with news police are searching a cafe in Southgate Street.

Police are investigating the Clean Plate cafe are receiving fresh information about Mary Bastholm who disappeared, aged 15, in 1968.

Her disappearance has long been linked with the serial killer and the news of the police search drew reporters and film crews from leading media outlets.

Family's plea for privacy as police search cafe for Mary Bastholm 

Sky News reporter Enda Brady said: "The Fred West case has always provided headlines all over the world because it is so shocking what happened all those years ago.

"It is an example of his crimes casting a very long shadow half a century later.

"You would hope that whatever the police find here will provide some closure for the family of that poor girl."

Unlike the original investigation at Cromwell Street in 1994, Good Morning Britain correspondent Richard Gaisford said the media are not likely to remain on the scene throughout the story.

He said: "We'll wait to see what the police say. We certainly won't be camping out here.

"I suppose everyone is waiting to see if police are going to start a full excavation of the site which could take weeks, but it could give Mary's family the answers they've been wanting.

"It's just so sad her parents died before they had a chance to know what happened to her.

Thoughts of many reporters on the scene were with Mary's family.

Daily Express crime reporter John Twomey said: "Perhaps memories outside Gloucester have faded, but now they have come back.

"It must have been torment tor the loved ones of Mary Bastholm over the years. Maybe that mystery will be solved in the next days or weeks."