This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/7360288.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Mother's body found in woodland | Mother's body found in woodland |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A body found in woodland is that of a missing mother who disappeared with her vulnerable son, police have confirmed. | A body found in woodland is that of a missing mother who disappeared with her vulnerable son, police have confirmed. |
| Heather Wardle, 39, of Redditch, Worcestershire, went missing with James Hughes on Friday evening. | Heather Wardle, 39, of Redditch, Worcestershire, went missing with James Hughes on Friday evening. |
| Her son is 22 but has the mental age of an 18-month-old. Police said he was still unaccounted for. | Her son is 22 but has the mental age of an 18-month-old. Police said he was still unaccounted for. |
| West Mercia Police found Ms Wardle's body in undergrowth near Winyates Way in the Church Hill area of the town on Monday evening. | West Mercia Police found Ms Wardle's body in undergrowth near Winyates Way in the Church Hill area of the town on Monday evening. |
| They said the death was being treated as unexplained. | They said the death was being treated as unexplained. |
| 'Very concerned' | 'Very concerned' |
| Supt Jane Horwood, of West Mercia Police, said James had epilepsy and other health needs and often used a wheelchair. | Supt Jane Horwood, of West Mercia Police, said James had epilepsy and other health needs and often used a wheelchair. |
| She said there were currently 40 to 50 officers working on the investigation, and the searches for James were being confined to the Redditch area. | She said there were currently 40 to 50 officers working on the investigation, and the searches for James were being confined to the Redditch area. |
| Supt Jane Horwood of West Mercia Police | |
| Supt Horwood added that officers were "very concerned for his well-being", adding: "He needs his most basic needs taking care of and cannot fend for himself. | Supt Horwood added that officers were "very concerned for his well-being", adding: "He needs his most basic needs taking care of and cannot fend for himself. |
| "We are therefore trying to find out more about both Heather and James's movements over the last few months. | "We are therefore trying to find out more about both Heather and James's movements over the last few months. |
| "We are trying to put together a picture of their lives and we want to hear from anyone who knew either of them." | "We are trying to put together a picture of their lives and we want to hear from anyone who knew either of them." |
| She said while police had established that Ms Wardle was last seen at about 1800 BST on Friday, it was not known when James was last seen. | She said while police had established that Ms Wardle was last seen at about 1800 BST on Friday, it was not known when James was last seen. |
| 'Under pressure' | 'Under pressure' |
| James is described as white, 5ft 4in tall, thin, with short mousy hair and looks younger than his age. | James is described as white, 5ft 4in tall, thin, with short mousy hair and looks younger than his age. |
| Officers had been searching Arrow Valley Country Park in the town for the pair overnight. | Officers had been searching Arrow Valley Country Park in the town for the pair overnight. |
| Police had appealed to Ms Wardle to get in touch, saying her partner, Brian Kirby, and her other three children were very worried. | Police had appealed to Ms Wardle to get in touch, saying her partner, Brian Kirby, and her other three children were very worried. |
| A post-mortem examination has been carried out on Ms Wardle and officers are waiting for the results. | A post-mortem examination has been carried out on Ms Wardle and officers are waiting for the results. |
| We can only imagine what tremendous strain Heather was under Det Supt Jane Horwood | We can only imagine what tremendous strain Heather was under Det Supt Jane Horwood |
| Mr Kirby had been due to make a public appeal on Tuesday for her to get in touch, but the press conference was postponed in the light of "developments" overnight, police said. | Mr Kirby had been due to make a public appeal on Tuesday for her to get in touch, but the press conference was postponed in the light of "developments" overnight, police said. |
| Ms Wardle was said by police to have been "under pressure". | Ms Wardle was said by police to have been "under pressure". |
| Det Supt Horwood added: "Heather was James's main carer and her family tell us she was a fantastic mother. | Det Supt Horwood added: "Heather was James's main carer and her family tell us she was a fantastic mother. |
| "However, looking after another person - however much that person is loved - round the clock inevitably takes its toll and we can only imagine what tremendous strain Heather was under." | "However, looking after another person - however much that person is loved - round the clock inevitably takes its toll and we can only imagine what tremendous strain Heather was under." |
| She had not taken her handbag or mobile telephone with her. | She had not taken her handbag or mobile telephone with her. |
| Officers said the pair had not gone missing before and their disappearance was totally out of character. | Officers said the pair had not gone missing before and their disappearance was totally out of character. |