by Katie Alston

A mother and daughter have been arrested in Canterbury on suspicion of murder and fraud offences.

Shirley Banfield, 62, and Lynette Banfield, 38, were arrested in the city on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into the disappearance of missing Trinidadian pensioner Don Banfield (pictured right).

It is believed the duo, who are in custody at two separate Kent police stations pending further inquiries, are originally from Harrow, north west London.

Mr Banfield, a retired betting shop manager, was reported missing on May 19, 2001. London detectives investigating his disappearance have renewed appeals for information relating to his whereabouts.

The 72-year-old was last seen leaving his home address in Locket Road, Wealdstone, by a family member on May 13, 2001.

When the investigation was initially launched by the missing persons unit, a number of appeals and lines of inquiry were followed. During a routine review of unsolved missing person cases across London, officers decided to revisit these and explore further forensic leads in the case. The homicide and serious crime command (HSCC), which investigate cases of high risk missing people, are now leading the inquiry.

Mr Banfield is described as black, of slim build with brown eyes, receding grey hair and around 5ft 6in tall. He has a tattoo of a heart on his left hand.

Before his disappearance, Mr Banfield was known to use betting shops and cafes in the west London area, particularly in Shepherds Bush.

He speaks with a pronounced West Indian accent and is known to be a heavy smoker.

DCI Howard Groves, of the HSCC based at Barnes, said: “Nearly nine years on we are reiterating appeals to trace missing Don Banfield.

“He has been described as a chatty, sociable man who knew many people in Harrow where he had been a betting shop manager.

“He also had a wide circle of friends who he kept in regular contact with. However, since his disappearance this contact has ceased.

“I am keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard from Mr Banfield since he was reported as missing.”