Police probing the disappearance of three Indian women cricketers on a tour of England are following up a possible sighting in Bradford.

Five members of the team from Jalandhar in the Punjab mysteriously vanished from the accommodation where they were staying in Hounslow, London, within days of their arrival in Britain.

Two of the women turned up safe two weeks later but could not give police an explanation for where they had been.

The other three, who are all in their late teens or early twenties, have failed to return.

Police said they did not have details of the women's families and they could be anywhere in the country.

Now the Metropolitan Police are investigating a report that the cricket team's coach, Ravi Sharma, had been seen in Bradford in the company of a young woman.

Indian businessman Mr Sharma, 52, who organises sporting tours from India to Britain, had previously used the offices of an unconnected travel agents in Leeds Road, Bradford.

He has been staying with the team at the house in Hounslow during the tour.

Sergeant Vince Harte, of the Missing Persons Unit at Hounslow Police, said they had received a report of the sighting and would be checking it out. He said: "Mr Sharma does have a daughter who is a player in the team so there could be a simple explanation.

"But we will speak to him to see if he has been to Bradford.

"There have been no positive sightings of the three missing players and we still need to hear from anyone who may know their whereabouts.

"The team's visas run out next Wednesday and they are due to fly back home on Tuesday. If these three are still missing then we will probably pass on their details to the immigration authorities for their attention."

Anyone with information can contact the Missing Persons Unit on 0208 247 6224.