A man charged with murdering a mother-of-two who has not been seen for nearly a week has appeared in court.

       Katie Kenyon, from Burnley, vanished on Friday morning after getting into a transit van.

       Andrew Burfield, 50, of Todmorden Road in the town, was charged on Wednesday with murdering the 33-year-old.

       He appeared before Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning, where he was remanded into custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

       Ms Kenyon was last seen at around 9.30am on Friday when she got into a Ford Transit van which left Burnley towards the Bolton-by-Bowland area of north Lancashire.

       Katie Kenyon has been missing since Friday (Lancashire Constabulary/PA)

       (PA Media)

       Police said her family, who said Ms Kenyon's disappearance is out of character, have thanked well-wishers for their support but have asked that people respect their privacy.

       Lancashire Police said on Tuesday they believe Ms Kenyon is dead.

       The force said her family has been made aware of the development and continues to be supported by specialist officers.

       Police search Gisburn Forest, Ribble Valley, for Katie Kenyon

       (Matthew Lofthouse/SWNS)

       Detectives have been continuing to search for Ms Kenyon and on Wednesday scoured a remote beauty spot.

       More than 60 specialist search officers from four police forces were searching through Gisburn Forest in the Ribble Valley looking for her.

       The hunt for Ms Kenyon involved police and fire service officers, dog teams, mounted police, mountain rescue volunteers and drones.