Yorkshire goes bike crazy with more than 1million people lining the streets for the opening stage of the historic race (even William, Kate and Harry couldn't keep away)

ore than one million cycling fans are lining the streets of Yorkshire for the historic opening stage of the Tour de France, which has been officially started by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

For just the second time in history, the race started in Britain with the 198 riders lining up in the centre of Leeds for the Grand Depart.

The city was packed with spectators for the opening stage, which sees the cyclists embark on a 120 mile route through the Yorkshire Dales to the spa town of Harrogate.

Prince William, Kate and Harry were at the starting line at Harewood House in Leeds to officially start this year's Tour de France

The Duchess of Cambridge was given the honour of cutting the ribbon, which symbolises that the Tour de France is officially underway

Kate looks delighted as she officially declares that the 101st Tour de France is underway as she cuts the ceremonial ribbon, helped by Prince William and Prince Harry

The royals will also be in Harrogate later today at the end of the first stage to meet the competitors, and the Duchess is expected to present the winner with the yellow jersey

Kate and Williams shook hands with the lead Tour de France competitors ahead of the race beginning at Harewood House in Leeds 

Competitors were given the royal send off at Harewood House, near Leeds where both Kate, William and Harry gathered with the Duchess of Cambridge, dressed in a bottle green coat with grey clutch bag, being given the honour of cutting the ribbon.

She is also expected to present the stage winner with the yellow jersey later this afternoon when the first stage ends at around 4.30pm.

Before the race began, the cyclists took off their helmets and were greeted with a rendition of both the French and British national anthems, performed by the Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers.

Along with the Duke and Prince Harry, she chatted with the lead riders, including reigning Tour champion Chris Froome.

Loud cheers also erupted from the crowd as the RAF's Red Arrows performed a flyover that left a trail of red, white and blue vapour - the national colours of France and the UK.

The race will see the peloton make its way through scores of towns and villages along the route with crowds cheering them on.

Although the Tour started in the middle of Leeds, the teams do not compete for the first eight miles and the race properly began in the grounds of Harewood House, with the Red Arrows also flying overhead.

The British contingent among the huge crowds expected on the route will be hoping that Mark Cavendish is first across the finish line in Harrogate more than four-and-a-half hours later.

Mr Cavendish's mother lives in the spa town and the ideal end to the day for many of those watching will be him sprinting to victory and securing the yellow jersey.

British hopes are also lying with last year's Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who is defending his title, although 2012 winner Sir Bradley Wiggins will not be competing.

The spa town of Harrogate is already filling up with spectators, where the first stage will end later this afternoon. The winner will receive the first yellow jersey of the competition

The usually quiet North Yorkshire dales are filling up with spectators for the Tour de France. Fans have been gathering in Buttertubs, pictured, which marks the steepest and most dangerous section of today's race

Residents in the town of Skipton have decorated their house in anticipation of welcoming the opening stage of the Tour de France

The royal visitors will be at the finish line to welcome the leaders and the peloton.

Residents in villages along the route have hung bunting in the race's signature canary yellow in their towns and villages, and have painted phone boxes to match.

A large banner in the shape of the yellow jersey has been draped over the roof of the historic York Minster cathedral, and the famous race leader's jersey also adorned the statue of the Black Prince in Leeds.

Even animals are not immune from cycling fever. Farmers have spray-painted their sheep and alpacas in yellow, green and red polka dots to match the various winners' jerseys.

Enthusiastic fans sporting black and white striped tops, berets, strings of garlic around their necks and bushy moustaches have taken to their bikes in homage to the French - who invented the race 101 years ago.

The red, white and blue flags of France and Great Britain have been draped across the front of shops and pubs as businesses race to embrace the visitors travelling from across the Channel for the start of the Tour.

Weather forecasters say the riders should be blessed with a mostly sunny day with the prospect of an odd shower.

Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire.

Tomorrow the riders arrive in York for a stage taking in some of the most challenging climbs in Britain, ending in Sheffield.

And, on Monday, the Tour moves south to Cambridge and a stage ending on The Mall, in central London.

The Tour de France is now in its 101st first year and the 2,277-mile, 21-stage race ends in Paris on 27 July.

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BREAKING NEWS: Scandal-hit King Juan Carlos of Spain to abdicate and hand crown to son Felipe - whose ex-TV newsreader wife is now set to become the world's most glamorous queen

King Juan Carlos of Spain is to abdicate after more than 40 years on the throne, handing the crown to his son, Crown Prince Felipe, the country's prime minister has revealed.
The 76-year-old oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years and seen his popularity nosedive in the face of a string of corruption scandals and gaffes.
His popularity also dipped following royal scandals, including an elephant-shooting trip he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis that tarnished the monarch's image.
He is the second European monarch to abdicate in just over a year after Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands handed the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander after 33 years in April last year.

Unpopular: Juan Carlos' popularity has nosedived in recent years following royal scandals, including an elephant-shooting trip in Botswana he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis in 2012 that tarnished the monarch's image

In the family: King Juan Carlos (far right) will hand the crown to his son, Prince Felipe (centre), pictured with Princess Letizia watching an air display in 2006

'His majesty, King Juan Carlos, has just communicated to me his will to give up the throne - I'm convinced this is the best moment for change,' Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a surprise announcement.

He did not say when Juan Carlos would abdicate because the government must now craft a law creating a legal mechanism for the abdication and for 46-year-old Felipe's assumption of power.
The king came to power in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco.
Known - like his namesake Don Juan - as a prolific lothario, he is even said to have bedded more than 1,500 women, one of whom is rumoured have been Princess Diana.
As a young and energetic statesman, he endeared himself to many Spaniards by putting down an attempted military coup in 1981.

Final handshake: The Twitter account of Spain's royal family published photos of King Juan Carlos I offering his letter of abdication to the country's Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy

'This is my decision to abdicate': The letter Juan Carlos handed to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy today which the Spanish Royal Family posted on Twitter

The new king and queen: Prince Felipe married Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, an award-winning television journalist formerly with CNN, in 2003. Despite the fact she is a divorcee, the public generally approved of Letizia since she represented the modern woman

But as Spain's new democracy matured over the years, the king played a largely figurehead role, travelling the globe as an ambassador for the country, and was a stabilising force in a country with restive, independence-minded regions such as the Basque region and Catalonia.
Juan Carlos has melded the trappings of royalty with down-to-earth, regular-guy charm. The king is an avid sports fan and after the Madrid terror bombings of March 11, 2004, showed he could grieve like anyone else.
At an emotional state funeral for the 191 people killed in the train bombings by Islamic militants, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia slowly went row-by-row through Madrid's Almudena Cathedral, clasping the hands of sobbing mourners or kissing them on the cheek.
But his patient work nearly came undone during the financial crisis by the now-infamous elephant shoot in Botswana that resulted in him being removed by conservation group WWF as its honorary president.
King Juan Carlos apologised to the Spanish people for the hunting trip, which only came to light when he was flown home from Africa after breaking a hip.

Royal friends: King Juan Carlos with Queen Elizabeth II of Britain during her majesty's royal tour of Spain in 1988

Lothario: Princess Diana is rumoured to be just one of the many young ladies the king, now 74, pursued in a romantic career in which - like his namesake, the seducer Don Juan ¿ he is said to have bedded more than 1,500 women (pictured aboard his yacht 'Fortuna' with Prince Charles and an eight-year-old Prince William)

Distant: Prince Charles perches awkwardly at the end of the sofa in this 1986 photograph showing him, Diana and the young Princes William and Harry with Queen Sofia and King Carlos of Spain

An online petition calling for his resignation from the WWF post accumulated almost 85,000 signatures by the time he made his public apology.
The controversy prompted Spanish newspapers to publish a photo of the king on a previous safari, in which he is seen standing with a gun beside a dead elephant.
'Although this type of hunting is legal and regulated, many members consider it to be incompatible with the position of honorary patron of an international organisation that aims to protect the environment,' WWF said at the time.
But his monarchy has also been heavily blighted by an investigation into his son-in law, Inaki Urdangarin, has been questioned in connection with a corruption scandal involving claims that he embezzled public funds to organise sports events.

High-power friends: Juan Carlos and wife Queen Sofia meet Pope John Paul II in 2003

A judge in Palma de Mallorca is expected to decide soon whether to put Urdangarin on trial on charges of embezzling 6 million euros in public funds through his charity.
The 76-year-old king, whose health is failing and has had five operations in two years, including hip replacement surgery, is stepping down for personal reasons, Rajoy said.
Spain does not have a precise law regulating abdication and succession. Rajoy said his cabinet would meet very soon to set out the steps for Prince Felipe to take over as Felipe VI.
The country is just pulling out of a difficult and long recession that has seen faith in politicians, the royal family and other institutions all dwindle.
Felipe, 46, has had an increasingly important role in ceremonial events in the past year and has not been stained by the corruption case involving his sister and her husband.

Juan Carlos was once beloved for his common touch and was seen as much more accessible than the British royals.
In 2012, at the height of Spain's financial crisis, the king fell and broke his hip during an elephant-hunting trip in Botswana. The lavish privately funded safari was secret until his accident and came at a time of particularly harsh public spending cuts.
Sixty-two percent of Spaniards were in favour of the king stepping down, according to a January poll by Sigma Dos. That compared with 45 percent a year earlier. Only 41 percent of those polled had a good or very good opinion of the king.
Felipe has a positive rating of 66 percent and most Spaniards believe the monarchy could recover its prestige if he took the throne, according to the poll.
Felipe married divorced journalist Letizia Ortiz in 2004 and they have two daughters.

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Mario Mandzukic, Karim Benzema, Cesc Fabregas and the other stars Wenger hopes to help Arsenal win Premier League

His future secured by a new three-year contract worth £8m a season and his transfer coffers boosted by £100m, Arsene Wenger will now begin the process of building another successful Arsenal side.

The Frenchman, who will complete two decades in charge of the north London club if he sees out his new contract, has already drawn up a shortlist of summer targets.

Wenger sees this month’s FA Cup triumph as only the beginning and the club’s hierarchy have backed him to build another all-conquering Arsenal side.

He will prioritise three key areas to strengthen - right-back, central midfield and up front - and here’s our lowdown on the potential recruits.

Ready to splash the cash? Arsene Wenger has plenty of money to play with at Arsenal this summer

Calum Chambers (Southampton)
With 31-year-old Bacary Sagna yet to commit to a new contract and strong interest in him from Manchester City, Paris St Germain and Galatasaray, Wenger will likely need a new right-back.
Chambers has enjoyed a breakthrough season for Southampton, making 22 appearances in the Barclays Premier League and impressing many with his boldness going forward.
The 19-year-old is currently England captain at that age group and is expected to make the transition into Roy Hodgson’s senior squad just as his Southampton clubmate Luke Shaw has done.
He is certainly one for the future and would suit Arsenal with his strong attributes both in attack and defence. He delivered 87 crosses in Premier League matches last season and his tackle success rate was a very good 84 per cent.
Probability: 5/10
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke)
Japanese international Uchida would also fit the bill for a forward-thinking right-sided player and has just one year remaining on his contract, which may persuade the Bundesliga club to sell.
After moving from J-League side Kashima Antlers, Uchida has established himself as one of the best in his position in the German top flight and was voted by fans in the Team of the Season.
With 127 appearances for Schalke and 67 caps for Japan under his belt, Uchida obviously represents a more experienced alternative to Chambers but he does have a tendency to get caught out of position too far forward.
Probability: 6.5/10

Hot prospect: Full back Calum Chambers is yet another youngster pulling up trees at Southampton

A bright future: 21-year-old defender Serge Aurier has kicked on since moving to Toulouse in Ligue 1

Key man: Atsuto Uchida will play for Japan at the World Cup in Brazil when it kicks off in a fortnight

Serge Aurier (Toulouse)
Ivorian Aurier would not take much persuading to make the move to north London. The 21-year-old is a lifelong Arsenal fan, has posted pictures on social media in an Arsenal shirt and has gone on record to say he ‘could not refuse’ if Wenger came calling.
After coming through the ranks at Lens, Aurier moved to Toulouse in 2012 and has continued his impressive development.
Like the other two, he is not shy in bombing forward down the wing and delivering crosses. Aurier scored six goals and contributed seven assists in Ligue 1 last season and earned himself a place in the provisional Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup.

Probability: 6.5/10

Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)

Wenger tried to sign Bender last summer but instead ended up with Mathieu Flamini for a second spell, offering a bit of substance in the midfield.

But despite Germany international Bender saying earlier this year that he is not ready to make the step up to the Premier League, Wenger may test Leverkusen’s resolve with a bid in the region of £20m.

That value is unlikely to increase this summer after Bender was ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury sustained during the squad’s training camp in the Tyrol.

From his deep-lying position in midfield, Bender would bring a tireless workrate and plenty of tenacity to shield the back four.

Probability: 7/10

Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)

There was some intense competition, but Schneiderlin scooped both the Player’s Player of the Year and the Fans’ Player of the Year accolades at Southampton following an excellent campaign.

He topped the Premier League rankings for interceptions (139) and tackles (146), scored a couple of Premier League goals and had a pass completion record of 84 per cent.

That’s a strong hand and it’s little wonder Wenger is interested in the Frenchman, who would come far cheaper than Bender.

Probability: 6/10

Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona)

There will be no shortage of suitors should Barcelona decide to offload Fabregas this summer and Wenger will hope that the emotional pull of a return to Arsenal will give them the advantage.

Arsenal fans who witnessed his brilliance prior to his departure back to Catalonia in 2011 don’t need to be told that Fabregas brings style, creativity, intelligence and a fine passing range.

He scored eight times and set up 19 other goals in La Liga alone last season and Wenger knows he won’t come cheap - somewhere between £35m and £40m will be required - or easily, with expected interest from Manchester United and others.

But it would be an immensely popular move to see the former captain return to the Emirates.

Probability: 6/10

Ball player: Morgan Schneiderlin (right, next to Patrice Evra) is with France after ticking over Saints' midfield

Coming back home? Spain's Cesc Fabregas

On the up: Germany's Lars Bender

Known each other a while: Fabregas, pictured with Arsene Wenger in 2003, has previous with the Gunners

Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid)
Arsenal chiefs have already made enquiries with Real Madrid over 21-year-old Morata, well aware that Juventus and other leading clubs have expressed a keen interest in one of Europe’s hottest properties.
Morata made 23 league appearances last season but the majority were in fits and starts from the bench and if Karim Benzema decides to sign a new contract, he may be tempted to seek more regular action elsewhere.
Arsenal scored 68 goals in the Premier League last season, significantly less than the 102 of champions Manchester City and the 101 of runners-up Liverpool. It is imperative they bring in an effective striker if they are to challenge for the title once again.
The main stumbling block in any deal would be Real’s insistence that they can buy Morata back within two years if he proves himself at another club.

Probability: 7/10

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The aforementioned Benzema, Real’s first choice striker who scored 24 goals and created a further 16 in all competitions last season, would be a more reliable, if expensive, choice.
Arsenal also enquired about his availability after the Champions League final, knowing that Benzema has yet to commit to a contract extension with just one season left to run.
Wenger has a long-standing interest in his compatriot and Arsenal have been linked with him for three consecutive summers now.
The signing of Benzema would represent a real coup for Wenger, the perfect start to his plans to construct another great Arsenal team. The striker would certainly guarantee 20-25 goals a season if he continues his current progress.

Probability: 4/10

+12

Time's running out: Croatian Mario Mandzukic is likely to leave German champions Bayern Munich this summer

Take your pick! Real Madrid striking pair Karim Benzema (left) and Alvaro Morata are both on Arsenal's radar

Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich)
With Robert Lewandowski arriving from Borussia Dortmund, at least one of Bayern’s uber-prolific front line will have to be sacrificed and the feeding frenzy looks likeliest to surround Mandzukic.
Manchester United and Chelsea are among the big clubs interested, meaning Arsenal would face stiff competition for a striker who scored 26 goals last season despite rarely completing a full 90 minutes.
Despite the impressive goal haul, Mandzukic was absent from the club’s end-of-season celebrations, the final sign that his time at the Allianz Arena has expired.
The arrival of Lewandowski, announced last summer, combined with a deterioration of the Croat’s relationship with Pep Guardiola, have meant his departure has become inevitable.
He is a proven goalscorer and a proven winner, and Wenger will face a real fight to sign him.

Probability: 6/10

Loic Remy (Queens Park Rangers)
Despite leading his team straight back into the Premier League, QPR boss Harry Redknapp is resigned to losing French striker Remy, who spent last season on loan at Newcastle United.
His 14 Premier League goals in 26 games were a rare highlight in Newcastle’s season but had the consequence of attracting the attention of a number of bigger clubs.
With QPR needing to balance the books, a move across London to the Emirates could happen for a reasonable price of perhaps £10m or less. 

Probability: 6.5/10

Different option? Frenchman Loic Remy was superb up front for Newcastle United last season

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Lampard would have 'no regrets' if his Chelsea career ends this summer

Frank Lampard is preparing himself to leave Chelsea, even if Jose Mourinho wants to keep the midfielder.

The 35-year-old's future remains uncertain and he could end a 13-year association with the club.

If he does end up departing, Lampard insists he will have no regrets.

Uncertain future: Frank Lampard (right) is unsure what will happen when his Chelsea deal expires

Legend: Lampard has smashed 211 goals during his time at Chelsea since a move from West Ham

'I don’t know if I’ll be at Chelsea next season,' Lampard told Red magazine. 'I’d like to carry on for two or three more years but it would be good to end on a high.
'So if that means it all ends tomorrow, I wouldn’t have any regrets.'
The former West Ham midfielder will be used sparingly by Roy Hodgson at the World Cup in Brazil and realises that he is becoming surpassed by others at club level.
'You know your shelf life, so I started to mentally prepare when I hit 30,' he added.
‘I’ve been doing this for a long time, so there’s a part of me that’s looking forward to the future.
‘I feel ready to handle it, because I’ve got other things, like the books.’

Lampard made 40 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions last season, although he is no longer sure of a first-team place.

He has always sworn that he will never play for another club in the Barclays Premier League, but LA Galaxy have a long-standing interest in Lampard and the MLS side would offer him a contract.

Blues brothers: Jose Mourinho hopes Lampard will join John Terry in committing his future to the club

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Aguero would 'love to go to Barcelona', says City star's father as Spanish giants 'make £31m bid'

Sergio Aguero's father has revealed that the Manchester City striker 'would love to go to Barcelona' amid Spanish media reports that the Catalans have launched a £31million bid.

Barcelona hope to tie up a deal for the 47-cap Argentina international and know that their opening offer is likely to be rebuffed outright by City.

But new Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique is a keen admirer of Aguero and he will insist that the Catalans return with a higher bid if a deal could potentially be struck, according to Spanish website Sport.

Passion: Sergio Aguero's father claims he would 'love' to go to Barcelona amid reports of a £31m bid

Keen: New Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique is an admirer of Aguero and is driving the Catalans' bid

Aguero, 25, has a great relationship with Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Enrique is hopeful they can soon be club team-mates as well as fellow Argentine internationals.

With Aguero under contract at City until 2017, the club would be unlikely to even consider selling their prize asset for anything less than the £36m they paid for him in July 2011.

Aguero enjoyed a fine season at the Etihad despite injury, scoring an impressive 28 goals in 34 appearances as he helped City win the Premier League and the Capital One Cup double.

Star: Aguero scored 28 goals in 34 games last season as Man City won the Premier League and League Cup

Dream team: Aguero could soon be in the same side as fellow Argentine Lionel Messi at Barcelona

And his father Leonel del Castillo does not believe that Manuel Pellegrini will allow his star striker to leave for the club he has always wanted to represent, such is his importance to the side.

He told Spanish newspaper AS: 'He would love to go to Barcelona but Manchester City will make it impossible (for Aguero to go).'

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Aguero would 'love to go to Barcelona', says City star's father as Spanish giants 'make £31m bid'

Sergio Aguero's father has revealed that the Manchester City striker 'would love to go to Barcelona' amid Spanish media reports that the Catalans have launched a £31million bid.

Barcelona hope to tie up a deal for the 47-cap Argentina international and know that their opening offer is likely to be rebuffed outright by City.

But new Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique is a keen admirer of Aguero and he will insist that the Catalans return with a higher bid if a deal could potentially be struck, according to Spanish website Sport.

Passion: Sergio Aguero's father claims he would 'love' to go to Barcelona amid reports of a £31m bid

Keen: New Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique is an admirer of Aguero and is driving the Catalans' bid

Aguero, 25, has a great relationship with Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Enrique is hopeful they can soon be club team-mates as well as fellow Argentine internationals.

With Aguero under contract at City until 2017, the club would be unlikely to even consider selling their prize asset for anything less than the £36m they paid for him in July 2011.

Aguero enjoyed a fine season at the Etihad despite injury, scoring an impressive 28 goals in 34 appearances as he helped City win the Premier League and the Capital One Cup double.

Star: Aguero scored 28 goals in 34 games last season as Man City won the Premier League and League Cup

Dream team: Aguero could soon be in the same side as fellow Argentine Lionel Messi at Barcelona

And his father Leonel del Castillo does not believe that Manuel Pellegrini will allow his star striker to leave for the club he has always wanted to represent, such is his importance to the side.

He told Spanish newspaper AS: 'He would love to go to Barcelona but Manchester City will make it impossible (for Aguero to go).'

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Body found in hunt for missing nurse Rui Li who was last seen driving her Porsche away from Poole hospital eight days ago

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a nurse a week ago have discovered a body.

Rui Li, 44, was last seen leaving Poole Hospital in Dorset, last Friday and was reported missing to police by her family four days later.

The body, which police 'strongly believe' to be that of the nurse, was discovered in the boot of a silver Fiat Punto in Bournemouth, Dorset.

On Wednesday, police arrested a 60-year-old Bournemouth man on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody after detectives were granted further time to question him.

A 26-year-old Bournemouth man, who is also known to Ms Li, has also been arrested on suspicion of murdering the nurse.

Forensic experts have examined three addresses at Burnham Drive, Wolverton Road and St Clement’s Road, all in Boscombe, Dorset.

Ms Li’s distinctive Porsche Boxster, with personalised number plate L1 RUI, was found outside a property in Wolverton Road.

Police have released CCTV of the last known sighting of Ms Li, which shows her leaving the car park at the hospital at 6.17pm last Friday.

Detectives said she moved to the UK from China a decade ago and has worked at Poole Hospital since 2009.

They said Ms Li, who has a teenage daughter, led 'a private personal life' and officers were trying to build a picture of her lifestyle.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: 'A 26-year-old Bournemouth man, also known to Ms Li, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He is currently being questioned by detectives.

'Detectives have also been granted additional time to question the arrested 60-year-old Bournemouth man.'

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester, who is leading the inquiry, said yesterday: 'It is still absolutely crucial for the investigation to establish what has happened to Ms Li between Friday evening and Tuesday morning.

'I am hoping this image of her distinctive car may jog people's memories. Did you see her driving home that evening?'

Investigation: A police tent and screens cover the scene where a body was found in the boot of a parked car

Corden: The body, which police 'strongly believe' to be that of the nurse, was discovered n a silver Fiat Punto in Verwood Crescent, Dorset

Ms Li was last seen leaving the hospital and was reported missing by her family five days later

Colleagues at Poole Hospital, where Ms Li worked, pictured above, described her as 'funny and unique' and have urged members of the public to come forward with information

Det Insp Hester added: 'I am even interested to know if you saw the car moving around or being driven by anyone else over the Bank Holiday weekend. We are also building a better picture of her lifestyle, interests and friends.

'We know that she was a reliable and hardworking nurse at Poole Hospital, who was popular with her colleagues, and also that she enjoyed outdoors activities, including climbing.

'However, since moving to the UK from China around a decade ago, she has also led quite a private personal life.

'I am keen to speak to anyone who knows her well and would reassure them they are not breaking any trust by speaking to us.'

Her colleagues from Poole Hospital have appealed for the public's help in tracking down the missing nurse.

Forensic officers at a property near where Ms Li's car was found today (left) and searching another property in Boscombe, Dorset (right)

Police also closed a footpath which runs behind the back of a Burnham Drive address in Boscombe

In a statement released by police, they said: 'Rui was a big character in our small close-knit team.

'Funny and so unique, she was totally reliable, professional and conscientious to a tee. She is terribly missed by all of us.

'Her nature was gentle and serene and that is part of the reason why we and the patients love her so much. If anybody knows anything please let the police know and help us find Rui.'

Ms Li is described as a slim woman of Chinese appearance who is about 5ft 5ins. She sometimes wears glasses and often has her shoulder-length black hair in a ponytail, police said.

Police said she came to the UK from China with her daughter around ten years ago and has worked as a nurse at Poole Hospital since April 2009.

She currently works in the medical investigations unit. Her teenage daughter is now receiving close support from police family liaison officers, a spokesman said.

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Is this Britain's vainest person? Barman who wants to look like ‘the perfect man’ gets £5,000 nose job on the NHS

A man who says he is seeking a celebrity lifestyle has been given a nose job by the NHS while it  refuses to fund the cancer treatment of a five-year-old girl who lives nearby.
Sam Barton, 22, has boasted about how easy it was to get the £5,000 procedure and admits he only wanted it so he could look like ‘the perfect man’.
The operation was paid for by NHS Birmingham CrossCity Clinical Commissioning Group. Five-year-old cancer victim Kelli Smith has been told her treatment won’t be paid for.

Britain's vainest man: Sam Barton, 22 from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, was given a £5,000 nose job on the NHS as part of his bid to become 'the perfect man'

She has suffered from neuroblastoma, an aggressive and often deadly form of childhood cancer, and has already had three tumours removed after a relapse.
She cannot get further treatment on the NHS, so her family are attempting to raise £500,000 so she can have it abroad.
Kelli’s father, Tom Attwater, 31, who has a terminal brain tumour, said last night it was wrong for the NHS to ‘throw away’ money on cosmetic procedures.
‘This man and anyone else should pay for themselves, unless they have a serious medical condition,’ he said.
‘I wake up every day with a terminal illness worrying about how to fund-raise £500,000 for Kelli’s treatment if she relapses. This is where NHS funding should go.’
Mr Barton, who lives close to Kelli’s family in Sutton Coldfield, admits he secured the cosmetic surgery by pretending to cry in front of his local GP.

Mr Barton had the operation, left, to try and copy the lives of people such as Joey Essex, right, who appeared on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! He said: 'I feel that if I mirror celebrities, like Joey, I will look and feel good'

‘Getting the NHS to pay was the easiest thing I have ever done,’ he said. ‘If you say it is ruining your life and you are a good actor it is easy. I can be very manipulative.
‘I said that all my friends are celebrities or glamour models and really beautiful and I am the only ugly one in my group of friends. If you don’t know what to say, just cry.’
Mr Barton, who works part-time in a bar and a supermarket, already had his nose straightened two years ago. He claims he could have had that on the NHS as well, but having it privately was quicker.
He says he has spent £20,000 for dental work, including full porcelain veneers, and friends and family have paid for Botox, eyebrow threading, tanning injections, body waxing and hair extensions.

The nose job was paid for by the NHS which has refused to fund treatment for cancer victim Kelli Smith, five

Mr Barton is also expecting the taxpayer to foot the bill for further cosmetic surgery, including another nose job, as well as having his ears pinned back and jaw reshaped.
He said: ‘I understand why people get angry when the NHS pays for people like me to have nose jobs, but when they make it so easy how can you blame me?’
He says he is friends with White Dee, who has gained notoriety after featuring in Channel 4’s Benefits Street, and says he plans to accompany her when she goes partying in Magaluf again next month.
On social media there are dozens of photographs of Mr Barton posing with minor television celebrities. He says he is trying to copy the lifestyles of people such as Joey Essex, who appeared on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!
‘It is my ultimate dream – as everyone wants – to look and feel like a celebrity,’ he said. ‘I’m chasing a lifestyle and I feel that if I mirror celebrities, like Joey, I will look good and feel good.
‘If the celebrities are spending all their money on treatments, I want to too. I will definitely go to the NHS first and try my luck.’
He said he has to wait 12 months before he can go back again. ‘I will just say that they had not done what I asked for and that it looks worse than before and do the whole routine that it is ruining my life and turn on the waterworks,’ he said.
‘I try to see a different GP every time so that they buy my story.’
Last year, aspiring glamour model Josie Cunningham, 22, had her breasts enlarged at a cost of £4,800 on the NHS using a similar tactic – by claiming her flat chest was ruining her life. Under NHS guidelines, cosmetic surgery should be funded only in rare circumstances ‘to protect a person’s health’.
Mr Barton’s procedure was paid for by the NHS Birmingham Commissioning Group after he was referred to a consultant by his GP.
A spokesman for the group said: ‘We do not comment on individual cases. All operations and interventions would only be undertaken on medical grounds and would require the approval of an appropriate clinical consultant.’
Other families whose children have been refused life-changing operations on the NHS last night told the Daily Mail of their anger at the case of Mr Barton.
Jake Foster, 13, was refused an operation that would prolong his life. His mother Debbie said: ‘It makes me so angry that someone can play the system like this. Crocodile tears may have worked for him, but we cried real tears, begged, started a petition and went to our local MP but nothing worked.’
Oliver Dockerty, three, was refused an operation that would allow him to walk. His mother Claire said: ‘What I don’t like is when people like this rub it in your face. People are struggling to get the money for procedures that could genuinely change someone’s life.’

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