Lost Boy Search Continues

Police are continuing to search for the disabled son of a woman who was found dead in woodland yesterday.

Heather Wardle, 39, went missing with her son James, 22, on Friday after she said she was walking to a friend's house in Redditch.

Police say that Ms Wardle's body was found with a ligature around her neck. A post mortem carried out on Ms Wardle's body has not lead to any conclusive cause of death. Toxicology tests are awaited.

Leading the investigation, Superintendent Jane Horwood, of West Mercia Police said: "The search continues to be concentrated in the Church Hill area of the town."

Supt Horwood also said that that police are speaking to family and friends to establish the recent movements of Ms Wardle and her son.

Both the police and James' family are "extremely concerned" of the boy's whereabouts as he has the mental age of an 18-month-old child and is in need of constant care.

"He needs medication for epilepsy, and without this he is likely to have very regular fits. In short, he is very disabled, requiring round-the-clock care," added Supt Horwood.

James' father, Paul Hughes told Sky: "We are all still desperately trying to find James at the moment. I am on tenterhooks and am sick with worry. We are all in bits and praying he is safe."

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police says that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.

A team of 50 officers are currently investigating the case.

James is described as looking younger than his age, 5ft 4 in tall, thin with short mousy hair.

(DS)