The remains of a baby have been found in the search for the missing child of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon.

Police said the body had been found in a wooded area of Brighton, close to where the couple were arrested on Monday.

“I understand that the conclusion of this search will be heartbreaking for the local community and the wider public,” said Det Supt Lewis Basford.

Missing baby – live updates: Baby’s body found in woodland

He said police would “do everything we possibly can to establish what has happened”.

A crime scene is in place where the body was found and a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Marten and Gordon – a convicted sex offender – were detained in Brighton on Monday on suspicion of child neglect after a member of the public spotted them at a shop.

They were further arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Tuesday after police said the pair refused to say where the baby was.

More than 200 officers have been looking for the child in allotments and woodland in and around Brighton.

Wild Park, in the city’s Moulsecoomb area, was among the areas being searched on Wednesday, with officers seen scouring the undergrowth and ponds.

Drones, sniffer dogs and a helicopter have all been involved in the operation.

Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, were reported missing on 5 January after their car caught fire on the M61, near Bolton.

It is believed Marten had given birth just a few days before and that the child had not received any medical checks.

Over the following days, there were sightings of them in places including Liverpool, Essex, south London.

Before their arrest, they were last seen in Newhaven – about seven miles from Brighton – on 8 January.

Authorities believe they were sleeping in a tent and avoided detection by only using cash, hiding their faces, and often moving around at night or in the early hours.

Police were earlier given another 36 hours to question the pair.