The body of a severely disabled man who disappeared with his mother last week was found yesterday close to his home. Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder.

James Hughes, who had the mental age of an 18-month-old, disappeared with his mother, Heather Wardle, 39, on Friday night.

His mother’s body was found on Monday evening with a ligature around her neck in dense undergrowth about half a mile from their home in Church Hill area of Redditch, Worcestershire.

Mr Hughes’s body was found by police at a property near their home yesterday afternoon. A post-mortem examination was under way last night to establish the cause of death.

Superintendent Jane Horwood, of West Mercia Police, said two men had been arrested on suspicion of murder and were currently helping police with their inquiries at police stations in Kidderminster and Redditch.

Police had established that Mrs Wardle was last seen at about 6pm on Friday but not when her son was last seen alive.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said yesterday: “A post-mortem examination took place yesterday afternoon and, while the results of toxicology tests are awaited, police are today able to confirm Heather was found with a ligature around her neck at the base of a tree.”

Detectives had several calls from the public about possible sightings of Mr Hughes and are trying to piece together his last movements. One call reported seeing a man he believed to be Mr Hughes pushing an empty wheelchair on Monday afternoon.

Superintendent Horwood said the man was with a young woman, aged 18 or 19, walking by a lake in Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch at 3.30pm. Another man was walking his three springer spaniels nearby, and one of the dogs jumped up at what is believed to be Mr Hughes, she said.

“We are asking for these people to come forward so we can eliminate them from the inquiry,” she said.

Mrs Wardle’s partner, Brian Kirby, yesterday described her as a “brilliant mother” who doted on her children. She had three other children, Daniel, 17, Callum, 8, and Luke, 6.

In his statement, Mr Kirby described his partner of 15 years as a chatty, bubbly person who was full of character and got on well with neighbours and his family. He said she very houseproud and despite the demands placed on her in looking after James around the clock always ensured that all of her children were clean and well clothed.

“Her priorities were the family and the house. She was an excellent mother and really lovely,” he added. “Her priorities were the family and the house. “It’s heartbreaking — it’s very hard to accept and take in,” he said, in a statement released through West Mercia police. “That wasn’t the Heather I know. It’s hurting me and the kids are also heartbroken and desperately missing her. It’s absolutely terrible: she will be sorely missed.”

Mr Kirby, a toolroom supervisor for an automotive company, told how as a family they often went on days out along with two close friends, enjoying visits to Alton Towers, Twycross Zoo and Drayton Manor Park. Locally they often went to the Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch.

When James and Daniel were of school age Mrs Wardle worked as a press operator for an engineering company at Batchley, Redditch, but left when she became pregnant with Callum. More recently she had been considering going back to work as a respite carer, having had direct experience through looking after James.

He added that although they had had problems in recent months they were still on close terms. Heather had helped him to get over the death of his father in March. “She was great, she was my star,”he said.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• No room for Baldrick in overstretched army
• Freecycle booms as middle class feels squeeze
• Marksman gets £5,000 over ‘serial killer’ quip