Indian women cricketers vanish in UK

Five players from an Indian women's cricket team on tour in England have disappeared in an apparent plot to dodge immigration controls.

The women, all in their early twenties, went missing from two houses in Hounslow where they were staying with eight other players.

The club, from Jalanbhar, capital of Punjab, arrived on 10 August on a three-week visa with a full schedule of matches, but only played twice in Worcestershire before the five disappeared on 12 August.

One was seen carrying luggage and getting into a car with two men at about 5pm. The other four told teammates they were going to visit the other house but were never seen again.

It is believed they all left their passports behind.

Sergeant Vince Harte from Hounslow's missing persons unit said: "There was talk of this mysterious man appearing and the girls going off with him but after enquiries it appears they knew him and it may have been all pre-arranged."