Body found in mother and son hunt

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Heather Wardle, 39, disappeared with her son James, 22, after saying she was walking to a friend's house in Redditch, Worcestershire.

A woman's body was discovered on Monday night in Redditch but James is still missing, Superintendent Jane Horwood of West Mercia police said.

James, whose 22nd birthday was on Sunday, has the mental age of an 18-month old child as well as epilepsy, which means he needs constant care.

Superintendent Horwood said police were very concerned for his welfare.

The body, yet to be formally identified, was discovered by local teenagers in an area of "dense undergrowth" in the Church Hill part of Redditch.

Detective Inspector Jon Marsden said the body was found "a five to 10-minute walk" from the family home. He added: "It is just off a commonly used bus route. It is quite a dense undergrowth area."

The main focus of the inquiry now is finding James, police said.

Ms Horwood said: "James has not been found and, obviously, in the light of the discovery of what we believe to be his mother's body, we are very concerned for his well-being.

"James has the mental age of an 18-month-old child and a number of other health problems, including epilepsy. He needs his most basic needs met and cannot fend for himself."