Body of missing woman found (From Stroud News and Journal)

Body of missing woman found

THE BODY of a missing Stonehouse woman has been recovered from the River Frome by police divers.

The search team discovered the body of Linda Morris shortly before noon on Friday just yards from where the missing woman's bike and rucksack had been found abandoned.

Despite the awful find the police search continued, hoping against hope, until Mrs Morris' body was formally identified yesterday.

The 44-year-old Stonehouse woman, who was known to be suffering from depression, went missing from her home in Arrowsmith Drive last Monday morning.

Initially police had received intelligence that she may have gone to stay in Bristol.

But when her possessions were found on the river bank at an isolated spot outside Stanley Downton, near Leonard Stanley, the search was focused on the surrounding area.

Dog handlers and the police helicopter worked alongside the divers as part of a major search operation.

Mrs Morris' family issued a statement before the grim discovery was made.

"We are desperately worried about Linda," said her sister Pat Puddephatt.

"She has been ill for a long time."

The family, including Linda's teenage son and daughter and a younger son, has since been too upset to issue any further statement.

The body was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where a post mortem was carried out.

An inquest into the death is due to start today, Wednesday, April 24 at Tewkesbury Magistrates Court where the cause of death will be determined.