Heather Wardle Tribute

Mother-of-four Heather Wardle, 39, of Redditch, Worcestershire, went missing on Friday evening.

Son James Hughes is 22 but has the mental age of an 18-month-old. Police said he was still unaccounted for.

Police found the body in undergrowth near Winyates Way in the Church Hill area of the town on Monday evening.

It is believed Ms Wardle's body was found less than a mile from where she lived with her son. Police said the death was being treated as unexplained.

'Very concerned'

Supt Jane Horwood, of West Mercia Police, said Mr Hughes 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 Mr Hughes were being confined to the Redditch area.

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 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 Mr Hughes was last seen.

'Under pressure'

Mr Hughes 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.

Police had appealed to Ms Wardle to get in touch, saying her partner, Brian Kirby, and her other three children, the youngest being six years old, were very worried.