Bodies of missing mother Charlotte Bevan and her newborn daughter Zaani found by police near Avon Gorge cliff

The bodies of a woman and a baby found by police are those of a missing mother Charlotte Bevan and her newborn daughter.

18:27 04 December 2014

On Tuesday night, a 30-year-old mum left Bristol Maternity Hospital with her four-day-old daughter. They were reported missing and a search was launched, capturing national media attention.

However the search didn’t meet a positive conclusion after police uncovered a body of a woman and a newborn baby in Avon Gorge.

A walker found Bevan's slippers and the baby's blanket at the top of the cliff and informed the police.

The Avon Gorge and the overhanging Clifton Suspension Bridge is roughly a mile and a half away from the hospital where Bevan and the newborn went missing.

The family of Charlotte Bevan has been informed and the bodies confirmed as her and the baby in question. 

CCTV footage from the hospital showed the mum wearing hospital slippers with her baby who was wrapped only in blankets.

Meanwhile, the baby’s father Pascal Malbrouck said on Wednesday that he was very concerned because Charlotte had suffered from mental health problems.

Bevan's mother Rachel Fortune, said: 'My beautiful daughter and grand-daughter are now at peace.

'The family would like to thank all the friends of Pascal, Charlotte and Zaani, some of whom we have only met today.

'We would also like to say thank you for all the messages from everyone.

'We wish to thank all the hospital staff at St Michael's and the mental healthcare team, past and present.

'The response and support from the public has been overwhelming and we would like to thank you all.

'We would also like to give our thanks to Avon and Somerset police and the volunteers from Avon Search and Rescue.

'We thank the press for their help and ask that we now be left in peace to grieve.'