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| 'Mother's body' found in woodland | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| 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 say he is 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. | |
| Police said the death was being treated as unexplained and a formal identification had not yet taken place. | |
| 'Very concerned' | |
| 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. | |
| Officers have been searching in Arrow Valley Country Park | |
| "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 trying to put together a picture of their lives and we want to hear from anyone who knew either of them." | |
| Officers had been searching Arrow Valley Country Park in the town overnight. | |
| Police had appealed to the mother to get in touch, saying her partner, Brian Kirby, and her other three children were very worried. | Police had appealed to the mother to get in touch, saying her partner, Brian Kirby, and her other three children were very worried. |
| 'Under pressure' | |
| 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 is said to have been "under pressure" recently, police said. | |
| 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. |
| He is described as white, 5ft 4ins tall, thin, with short mousy hair and looks younger than his age. His mother is white, with shoulder-length dark brown hair. She was possibly wearing jeans and trainers. | He is described as white, 5ft 4ins tall, thin, with short mousy hair and looks younger than his age. His mother is white, with shoulder-length dark brown hair. She was possibly wearing jeans and trainers. |