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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 'Mother's body' found in woodland | 'Mother's body' found in woodland |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A body found in woodland is believed to be that of a missing mother who disappeared with her vulnerable son. | A body found in woodland is believed to be that of a missing mother who disappeared with her vulnerable son. |
| 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. |
| Ms Wardle's son is 22 but has the mental age of an 18-month-old. Police said he was still unaccounted for. | Ms Wardle's son is 22 but has the mental age of an 18-month-old. Police said he was still unaccounted for. |
| West Mercia Police found the woman's body in undergrowth near Winyates Way in the Church Hill area of the town on Monday evening. | West Mercia Police found the woman's body in undergrowth near Winyates Way in the Church Hill area of the town on Monday evening. |
| Police said the death was being treated as unexplained and a formal identification had not yet taken place. | Police said the death was being treated as unexplained and a formal identification had not yet taken place. |
| '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 added: "James has not been found, and obviously in light of the discovery of what we believe to be his mother's body, we are very concerned for his well-being. | She added: "James has not been found, and obviously in light of the discovery of what we believe to be his mother's body, we are very concerned for his well-being. |
| We can only imagine what tremendous strain Heather was under Det Supt Jane HorwoodWest Mercia Police | |
| "He needs his most basic needs taking care of and cannot fend for himself. | "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 4ins tall, thin, with short mousy hair and looks younger than his age. | James is described as white, 5ft 4ins tall, thin, with short mousy hair and looks younger than his age. |
| Officers had been searching Arrow Valley Country Park in the town overnight. | Officers had been searching Arrow Valley Country Park in the town 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. |
| Officers have been searching in Arrow Valley Country Park | Officers have been searching in Arrow Valley Country Park |
| 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. |