The police chief leading the search for a missing woman has revealed that what they found at her house sparked a murder inquiry.

The large-scale investigation into what happened to Antonietta Guarino, 61, moved on rapidly yesterday after police found her car at a scrapyard near her Trowbridge home.

They also asked magistrates for more time to question two men about her disappearance. They had been arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday evening.

One of the men in custody is believed to have been living as Mrs Guarino's lodger in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The other man also lives in the town.

Police activity was also concentrated at a flat in Orchard Court, off County Way as well as her house in Osborne Road.

Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher said there had been inconsistencies in what they found in Mrs Guarino's home and they were of such concern that what had been a missing person's inquiry instantly became a murder hunt.

Police have not found Mrs Guarino's body and say there is a possibility she is still alive.

Mrs Guarino was well-known in the community, she was the petite, glamorous Italian who walked with a stick and was often out and about in town.

She lived on the edge of Trowbridge, her house was the second-to-last in a cul- de-sac before the open space of Hilperton Gap.

The last confirmed sighting was when she went to a doctor in Trowbridge on January 7 and her family reported her missing earlier this week.

An appeal for sightings of her car proved successful and police found her silver Toyota Yaris from Shanley's scrapyard and recovered it for forensic evidence.

Mr Fulcher said: "It is out of character for her not to maintain contact with her family. She has a son, daughter and granddaughter who live outside the county and hasn't been in touch with her family for three weeks.

"It reached a point where the concerns of the family were such that they reported her as a missing person and more and more concerns have become apparent to me that something has befallen her.

"Examinations at the house are continuing. It is because of what we have found within the house that led us to push on with a murder inquiry. There are inconsistencies in the house that gave us concerns."

Police sniffer dogs have been out searching five areas around Trowbridge, with forensic teams scouring the property in Osborne Road and the recovered car.

Mrs Guarino's family are also being supported and helped by police family liaison officers. Two local men remain in custody. The men, aged 19 and 24, were arrested on Tuesday and have been questioned at the police headquarters in Melksham.

"We are still interested in any sightings of Mrs Guarino that have been made in the past three weeks," added Mr Fulcher.

"It's true to say we have grave fears for what has happened to her, and alarm bells are ringing, but I'm hoping that she's still alive and she'll see the appeals and get in touch with us."