Police 'didn't want to know' about landslide victim Her friend had to keep on and on at them but it was really only just last weekend they seemed to take any interest. By that time, her friend was contacting everyone she could think of but nobody had seen her Why did it take so long for anybody to find them, for anyone to look there? I bet it's health and safety. They must have been thinking it wasn't safe to go in. Police were under pressure to explain why it had taken so long to reach the couple, who lay trapped about four miles from the village. Asst Chief Constable James Vaughan of Dorset Police, who is leading the investigation into the deaths, said that no major search was carried out until it became known that the pair were in the area at the time of the landslide. He said police had had a busy weekend and there had been no obvious signs of a vehicle buried in the mud, nor any reports of missing people in the area. Miss Snell and her friend had been eating out in Beaminster on the evening of the landslide, Saturday July 7, a search of credit card details suggested. A stalwart of the Women's Institute, she was well known in the village and tributes were paid to a "knowledgeable" woman who was "enjoyable company." David Welsh, chairman of Misterton Parish Council, said yesterday it was over a day before it was noticed she was missing. "Investigations were being carried out by local police, who seemed to be quite thorough," he told Sky News. They had gone into her house and her car to try to trace her whereabouts. I don't think they had many leads at the time. Then we took this surprise on the nose earlier this morning when we were informed by the police. We realised that she hadn't turned up for some engagements. She's an extremely reliable and well-organised person, so concern was raised at that time and the police were contacted and they started their investigation. Mr Welsh described her as a well-educated woman who was involved in the Women's Institute and other local groups. He added: "She was a qualified London guide, she was extremely knowledgeable. In all the village quizzes she always had the most points for knowledge on general subjects. Miss Snell was also a member of The Guild of Guide Lecturers, where she listed her interests as antiques, gardens and social history. One villager said: "I think everyone knew her in the village. She had a magnificent spirit and was most enjoyable company socially. Everyone will be terribly shocked by this. Avon and Somerset Police alerted emergency services in Dorset to the possibility of a link between the landslide and the missing persons inquiry on Monday. When the car was eventually found under mud and rubble, its roof was completely flat. The vehicle has now been taken to Weymouth police station.