THE second set of human remains found in the garden of a Margate council house have been confirmed as those of missing teenager Dinah McNicol.

DNA tests were carried out on the remains that were unearthed last Friday afternoon by police excavating the rear garden at 50 Irvine Drive where the body of missing Vicky Hamilton, 15, had already been found on Monday, November 12.

Dinah, 18, who came from Essex, went missing in August 1991 on the way home from a music festival in Hampshire.

Police suspected that the remains were Dinah's due to their height and the clothing and jewellery found with the body. Formal notification was received by the investigation team on Tuesday afternoon and Dinah's family were told.

Meanwhile, the family of Vicky Hamilton have thanked police for "finding our sister and bringing her home".

A statement issued by Lothian and Borders police on behalf of Vicky Hamilton's sister Sharon,36, twin brother and sister, Lee and Lindsay, both 23, reads: "Sharon, Lee and Lindsay would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the inquiry team from Lothian and Borders Police for finding our sister and bringing her home.

"Also a thank you to the public for their support at this difficult time and to all those who have left floral tributes at the house in Margate and to those who attended the Prayer Service for Vicky and Dinah McNicol on Sunday.

"We would also like to thank everybody who have supported the family over the past 16 years.

"This is a difficult time for us all but the knowledge that Vicky will be reunited with her mother gives us solace and a degree of comfort.

"After 16 long years we are thankful we can finally grieve for Vicky and give her a proper burial.

"Vicky going missing ripped the family apart. Not only did we lose a beloved sister, we also lost our mother who died through heartache never knowing what happened to her daughter."

"Our thoughts are also with Dinah's family. We understand exactly what they are going through and offer our support and comfort at this time."