Fatal house fire in Penrith
A man believed to be in his sixties has died in a house fire in Penrith, Cumbria
Cumbria hosts conference on domestic violence
The conference will explore issues of forced marriage, honour based violence and same sex domestic violence.
Wiggins and Cavendish visit Cumbrian village pub
Hundreds of people in Cumbria were able to see cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish as they dropped in at a pub near Penrith.
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Public thanked for help over search for missing Penrith teenager
Members of the public have been thanked for assisting the police with their search for missing Penrith mum, Catalina Covaci.
The 15-year-old has not been seen since 19th December, when she left her home with her six-month-old son Ricardo.
Police launched an appeal to trace a lady seen speaking to Ms Covaci at Manchester Piccadilly station on the afternoon of 19th December.
A CCTV image of the lady was released, and four phone calls have been received offering information, including one from the commuter who was speaking to Ms Covaci.
– Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir, Cumbria Police“We want to thank everyone who has taken the time to look at Catalina and Ricardo’s photographs and phone in with information.
"The information we have received has been helpful and each potential sighting has been followed up.
“Catalina and Ricardo have been missing for over a month. At this stage in the investigation, the smallest piece of information could make a big difference to us so I’d urge anyone who can, to call us and help.
"These two children are vulnerable and need to be located, quickly. Please, if you know where they are or if you think you have seen them, get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to ring Cumbria Police by calling 101 or call Crimestoppers to provide information anonymously on 0800 555 111.
One month on- Penrith teenager and baby still missing
The six-month-old son of a missing Penrith teenager has been released, on the four week anniversary of their disappearance.
15-year-old Catalina Covaci was last seen with her baby son Ricardo at her home in Penrith on 19th December.
Police have released several CCTV images of the teen and an appeal was made to a woman seen talking to Ms Covaci at around 1.40pm on 19th December, at Manchester Piccadilly Station.
Cumbria Police say she’s known to have links in the London, Manchester, Oldham and Glasgow areas but also has strong connections to Romanian and travelling communities around the country.
Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir, from Cumbria Police, has been leading the investigation.
She said:
"This is an unusual and concerning investigation due to the fact that Catalina and Ricardo are so young and have not been in touch with their guardians or local friends to say they are safe and well for one month now.
"Numerous calls have come in from members of the public who believe they may have seen Catalina in the Manchester area.
All of these have been followed up, however, we have not yet been able to locate Catalina.
"If anyone knows anything about Catalina and Ricardo’s movements since 19 December, or their current whereabouts, please get in touch with us now by calling Cumbria police on 101."
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Appeal to commuter who spoke to missing Penrith mum
A CCTV image has been released of a commuter seen talking to a missing Penrith teenager.
Police are appealing to the lady who was chatting to 15-year-old Catalina Covaci at around 1.40pm in Manchester Piccadilly station on the day she went missing (19th December).
The teenager left her home in Penrith, with her six-month-old son Ricardo, after telling her guardians she was going into town.
She was seen at Penrith Train station on the morning she went missing, before taking a train to Manchester.
– Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir, Cumbria Police“CCTV investigation has revealed that Catalina spoke to a woman when she arrived in Manchester Piccadilly train station on the afternoon she went missing.
"It is incredibly important that we trace this witness to find out what Catalina said, whether she asked for help or whether she indicated where she may be going.
“We are into the fourth week of her disappearance and her family in Penrith are distressed and we need to ensure that we locate them both-quickly."
CCTV image of commuter who spoke to missing Penrith teenager
A CCTV image has been released of a commuter speaking to a missing Penrith teenager at Manchester Piccadilly station.
Police are appealing to the woman seen talking to Catalina Covaci at around 1.40pm on 19th December, when she was last seen with her six-month-old son Ricardo.
The lady is described as wearing a black jacket, a black hat and carrying several black bags.
Anyone who has information about the commuter or Catalina and Ricardo is asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
ROADS: M6 Cumbria, one lane closed
One lane is closed on the M6 northbound between Shap (J39) and Penrith (J40), due to a broken down vehicle.
Appeal for information on Romanian mum and baby
Cumbria Police are asking people to contact them if they have any information on a teenage mum and her baby son who have been missing for over a week.
15-year-old Catalina Covaci and her six month old son Ricardo, were last seen leaving their Penrith home on Wednesday 19th December.
Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir siad:
"We just want Catalina or anyone who knows where she is to get in contact and let us know that her and her baby son Ricardo are safe and well. She is not in trouble. Her welfare is our main concern."
Twitter users are being urged to use #helpfindcatalina if they have any information on the missing teenager and baby.
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Police search for missing teenager and baby
A vulnerable teenager has gone missing with her infant son.
Concerns are growing for missing Catalina Covaci, 15, who is originally from Romania, and her six-month old son Ricardi.
Catalina has been in Penrith in Cumbria for more than a year but also has family associates all over the country.
This includes Manchester, Oldham, Glasgow, Hull and London.
She was last seen on Wednesday December 19 when she left home telling her guardians she was going to Penrith town centre.
The investigations to date has confirmed Catalina got on the train from Penrith Station, bound for Manchester Picadilly at around 2.40pm on December 19.
And she may have travelled further on to Oldham with her son. Police would like to know if she is travelling with anyone else.
She is described as having very long straight hair that was dyed red the last time she was seen. She often wears her hair in a bun. She is of a slim build and was last seen wearing a leopard print skirt, fake leather coat and black boots.
Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir is coordinating the search for Catalina: She said: “We are really worried about the welfare of Catalina due to her age, the fact she has her baby son with her and has very little money.
“She is vulnerable due to her age and we need to ensure her and her son are both ok. We have contacted colleagues in neighbouring forces and are appealing to the people of Cumbria to look carefully at her photograph and call us if they believe they’ve seen her.
“There is suggestion she may have been trying to contact some connections she has in Manchester or the Oldham area or may even be attempting to leave the country.
“She is not in any trouble – we just need to make sure she is safe and well this Christmas. She has strong connections within the Romanian community and we are confident that somebody out there knows where she is or will have information that can help us trace her.
“If you think you’ve seen someone matching Catalina’s description, get in touch with us immediately on 101.”
Family pay tribute to a 'kind and loving' woman
The family of a woman who was found in the river Eden have paid tribute to her.
64-year-old Kathleen Dixon was found near Langwathby Bridge near Penrith, following a police search.
Her family have described her as someone who ' wouldn’t hesitate to help others.'
Mr and Mrs Wilfred Dixon, Kathleen’s brother and sister in law said:
“Kathleen was a very special sister, sister-in-law, auntie and friend.
“She was kind, heart-warming, loving and a very good friend of Sharon and Margaret. She would never hesitate to help anyone who needed her.
“She loved doing voluntary work with Age Concern and Eden Animal Rescue. Thank you to them for their care of her, and any other friends we have not mentioned. A very big thank you to the police for all their help and hard work in finding Kathleen.
“Thank you also to the hospital staff for their care of Kathleen.
“She has now gone to join her mam, big brother John and sister, Daphne. Give her a cuddle from us and look after her.”
River body named
The woman whose body was found in the river at Langwathby bridge has been named.
Kathleen Dixon, 64, from Bluebell Court in Penrith, was found during a search of the river after she was reported missing.
Cumbria Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Body found in Penrith river
A woman's body has been found during a search of the river at Langwathby Bridge, near Penrith.
Detectives were searching the area after a local woman was reported missing.
The body was found at 4.45am this morning (December 20th).
Police say that initial enquiries suggest there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
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