Jayden Parkinson search: Family 'heartbroken' after body find

The family of missing teenager Jayden Parkinson are "heartbroken and devastated" following the discovery of a body, police say.

The body was discovered in a recently disturbed grave at All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday.

Det Ch Supt Andy Murray said: "We had prepared Jayden's family for the worst, but I'm afraid nothing can prepare you for the loss of your child."

Jayden, 17, disappeared on 3 December prompting an extensive search.

Police said the body, which has not been formally identified, was removed from the cemetery late on Wednesday night.

Jayden's family have been kept informed of developments.

Jayden Parkinson was last seen at Didcot railway station on 3 December

"They remain heartbroken, they remain devastated, and our thoughts are with them at this time," Mr Murray said.

Mr Murray said a post-mortem examination was to be carried out later, "to try and determine how Jayden died".

Murder charge

Jayden was last seen leaving the Didcot railway station at about 16:30 GMT on 3 December.

Her ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, appeared in court earlier this week charged with murder.

On Tuesday police received "significant and highly relevant information" which led their search efforts to a specific grave in the churchyard.

Police said there had been suggestions Jayden may have been pregnant, but they have so far been unable to confirm this.

A 17-year-old boy from Didcot, who has been charged with perverting the course of justice, has also appeared in court and is due back on 17 March.

A tent and screening was erected by police during the search of the grave

He is accused of assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence.

More than 100 officers and detectives have spent much of the past week carrying out intensive forensic searches at several sites in and around Didcot and the nearby village of Upton in a bid to find Jayden.

A semi-detached house in Great Western Drive, a few hundred yards away from the cemetery, was also searched.

A cordon was put up in a park which links Great Western Drive to an alleyway running behind the cemetery.

Forensic officers have been examining both areas.