Rachel Booth search latest: Tragic update as body found in search for missing woman

One neighbour of Rachel's said: “Those poor children! I feel for them and her husband. I was really hoping for a positive ending. It’s so sad.”

A mum living in Barnton in Cheshire said of Rachel: "I knew her from the school and she was always pleasant - she has three boys at the school."

Raj Kaur told The Sun: "We have all been praying for her.

"She is in everyone’s thoughts here and we all wanted her to be found safe and well.

"It’s so very, very sad. She had three children - it’s such a sad time now."

A local resident, Raj Kaur, spoke to The Sun, describing her as "a lovely clever lady" and "very active and very nice".

Another mum in the area added: "I knew her from the school and she was always pleasant - she has three boys at the school."

Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley suggested the closure of a water park linked to Ms Booth's disappearance was an attempt by police to keep amateur sleuths away from a search area.

Speaking before a body was found today, he said: "Clearly, that has been done to deter would-be armchair detectives.

"[Cheshire Police] don't want another Nicola Bulley situation where members of the public fuel speculation and post theories on social media, which would be harmful for those who know and love Rachel.

"I'm sure we're seeing lessons learned from Nicola Bulley's tragic case, particularly with regards the closing of the water park. [The police] don't want a repeat of January and February 2023."

Police who were searching for missing mum Rachel Booth will avoid repeating a mistake made during Nicola Bulley's case, a former Scotland Yard detective has said. Peter Bleksley said the way Lancashire Police handled the media during the search for Ms Bulley was "absolutely lamentable".

He told the Express: "The handling of information in Nicola Bulley's case and the way the police dealt with the media were absolutely lamentable and shown to be at fault.

"[Lancashire Police] lost control of the narrative and almost created a void which was filled by speculation, gossip and rumour, some of which was malicious and hurtful.

"I'm sure Cheshire Police is doing everything it can to ensure that appalling situation is not replicated here." Lancashire Police declined to comment.

Wild Shore Delamere said in a statement on Facebook: "We have been notified by Cheshire Police that following extensive appeals and searches in the area, officers have now sadly recovered a body in a lake in Oakmere.

"Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be that of Rachel. Our thoughts are with Rachel’s family and those deeply affected by the news.

"As our waterparks are situated on the opposite side of the lake, we have made the decision to remain closed tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd July) as a mark of respect."

Rachel Booth left her home in Barnton for a run in the early hours of Saturday (July 19).

She was next seen at 3.50am, almost seven miles away from her home at Sandiway Garage. Staff said she "didn't seem distrurbed or flustered" and bought milk and wine.

A nearby family believes Rachel passed their home five minutes later after leaving the garage. Her family also reported her missing after she failed to return from her run.

It is not known if anyone saw her after that but police began searching Wild Shore Delamere water park on Sunday (July 20).

Today (July 21), police confirmed that divers recovered a body from a lake in Oakmere which was "believed to be that of Rachel".

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner, the spokesman said.

A body has been found in the search for Rachel Booth who went missing after she was last seen at a petrol station in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Cheshire Police said in a statement: "Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be that of Rachel. Her family have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers.

"They have requested privacy at this time."

As the hunt for Rachel continues the force is urging anyone with information on missing Rachel to get in touch by calling 101 or on the force’s website quoting IML-2136439.

The Wild Shore Delamere Park watersports centre said in a statement it is closed “due to ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area”.

The statement added: “This incident is unrelated to Wild Shore – however we wish to help as much as possible – so we will be closing the site until further notice.”

This morning two underwater search units were seen arriving at the Delamere Lake holiday park, next to Wild Shore Delamere water park.

The entrance to Wild Shore was cordoned off and police tape was across a road in the holiday park leading to the lake area.

Rachel is described as 5ft 9ins, of a slim build, with blonde hair and is believed to be wearing black leggings and a black top.

Chilling  CCTV from this final sighting shows Rachel in running gear as she walks through the aisles.

And now a worker at the Shell petrol station has revealed what the mum brought before she vanished providing vital insight into her last known movements.

Issac Carolan, 19, who works at the garage, told The Sun: "I spoke to my colleague who had served her on Saturday morning.

"She bought milk and wine and jogged from 45 minutes away."

He added: "But it didn't seem weird, she didn't seem disturbed or flustered."

Police dogs have been deployed in a bid to locate the missing mum of three.

The police are also appealing directly to Rachel.

In his latest police statement, Cheshire Police Superintendent Paul Hughes said Cheshire Police have deployed underwater search teams to scour a nearby lake.

He said: “We are currently following a number of inquiries to trace Rachel and we are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.

"As part of our investigation, our officers and partner agencies, including the Underwater Search Team and Cheshire Search and Rescue, are conducting inquiries in the Oakmere and surrounding areas where it is believed Rachel travelled to, and we would like to thank local businesses for their patience and understanding while these are currently ongoing.

“Investigators are following all lines of inquiry and anyone who has seen Rachel since she was reported missing is asked to contact us. The same goes for anyone who has any information on her whereabouts.

“We would also like to appeal directly to Rachel to get in touch to let us know you are OK.”

Rachel's last recorded moments have only raised more questions with the mum captured going for a jog during the early hours of Saturday morning.

Rachel was last seen by family members in the Barnton area of Northwich, where she lives, on Saturday, but that wasn't the most recent sighting.

She was recorded five miles away at around 3:50am on Saturday at the Sandiway garage following a 45-minute run.

News of Rachel's disappearance has sparked an onslaught of concerned messages online.

One local described her as a mother-of-three with "three gorgeous boys" and a "loving husband". 

Liz Almond Aesthetics, an aesthetics practitioner at Beyond Beauty Group in Nantwich, posted a desperate appeal to find the mum.

The post read: "This lady is a client of ours. Share as much as you can and get her home safe."

Rachel's mum, Chrissie Widdowson, shared the police's appeal to find her daughter, along with friends and members of the public.

People who know the Barnton resident have described her as "a lovely clever lady," who is "very active and very nice."

A mum who knows Rachel, speaking to the Sun, said: "I knew her from the school and she was always pleasant - she has three boys at the school."

She is described as being of a slim build, 5ft9ins tall, and with blonde hair. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a black top.

A mum believes she's sighted Rachel walking past her house five minutes later after the mum visited a petrol station at 3:50am.

She said: "I am fairly sure it's her that walked past my house at 3.55am. I have a video."

Police believe Rachel Booth, 38, from Northwich, Cheshire, may have travelled to the Oakmere area of Delamere, where police officers, underwater search teams and Cheshire Search and Rescue are currently conducting enquiries.

A water park in Delamere, less than two miles away from the petrol station, said it was closed on Sunday due to a police investigation in the surrounding area.

Wild Shore Delamere, a water-based adventure hub, saidyesterday: "Due to ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area, Wildshore Delamere will remain closed tomorrow, Sunday, July 20th.

"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

"The incident is unrelated to Wild Shore - however, we wish to help as much as possible - so we will be closing the site until further notice.

"If your booking is affected by this closure, please contact our customer services team. We’ll be happy to arrange a refund or reschedule your session for a later date. Thank you for your understanding."

Superintendent Paul Hughes said: “We are currently following a number of inquiries to trace Rachel and we are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.

“As part of our investigation, our officers and partner agencies, including the Underwater Search Team and Cheshire Search and Rescue, are conducting inquiries in the Oakmere and surrounding areas where it is believed Rachel travelled to, and we would like to thank local businesses for their patience and understanding while these are currently ongoing.“

Police believe Rachel Booth, 38, from Northwich, Cheshire, may have travelled to the Oakmere area of Delamere, where police officers, underwater search teams and Cheshire Search and Rescue are currently conducting enquiries.

A water park in Delamere, less than two miles away from the petrol station, said it was closed on Sunday due to a police investigation in the surrounding area.

The last person known to have seen Rachel Booth was a worker at the Sandiway garage on the A556, where the 38-year-old had popped in for some wine and milk at 3:50am on Saturday.

CCTV from this final sighting shows Rachel in running gear as she walks through the aisles.

Garage worker Issac Carolan, 19, said he had spoken to a colleague who served her, and Rachel did not seem "disturbed or flustered” and the interaction did not appear to be “weird”.

Good morning. My name is Lauran O'Toole and welcome to our live blog. 

Detectives are urgently trying to find Rachel Booth, a 38-year-old mum from Cheshire, who vanished in the early hours of Saturday morning after going on a run that took her miles from home.