A murder investigation has been launched after a woman's body was found in a cemetery as police search for a missing mum-of-two.
The woman was found dead by a member of the public in Accrington, Lancashire, on Saturday night.
Police have not confirmed the woman's identity, but they have informed the family of missing teaching assistant Lindsay Birbeck, 47, who vanished two weeks ago.
Ms Birbeck was last seen on CCTV in the village of Huncoat, near Accrington, on August 12.
The body of an unidentified woman was found less than a mile away in Accrington Cemetery at about 8pm on Saturday and the death is now being treated as murder, LancsLive reports.
Forensic officers were carrying out an investigation at the scene.
A post-mortem is scheduled to confirm the cause of death.
A Lancashire police spokesperson said: "Following a discovery at Accrington Cemetery on the evening of Saturday, August 24th we can now sadly confirm that the find is that of the body of a woman.
"Police were called at shortly before 8pm on Saturday, August 24th to a report by a member of the public of the find in an area of Accrington Cemetery, Burnley Road.
"A lengthy and detailed examination of the scene has been carried out through the day by forensic experts.
"We are not in a position to confirm the woman’s identity at this stage and while the family of missing teaching assistant Lindsay Birbeck have been told of this latest development we would ask once again that people do not speculate on social media as this could cause the family additional distress.
"A Home Office post mortem examination will now be carried out to try to establish the cause of death.
"Enquiries are continuing and we will continue to update you when we can."
Hundreds of volunteers have been helping police with the search for Ms Birbeck, who is mum to 19-year-old Stephen and 16-year-old Sarah., who received her GCSE results last week.
She was last seen entering an area of The Coppice, a park between Huncoat and Accrington, at around 4.30pm on August 12.
Her disappearance has been described as "out of character".
Screens were used at Accrington Stanley's League One match against Shrewsbury Town last Tuesday as part of an appeal for tips.
Police held a Q&A with the public at Accrington Town Hall and posters have been plastered around the area.
Last week, Ms Birbeck's father, Russell Martin, told LancsLive of his heartache as she had been missing for 10 days.
He said: "My stomach is turning.
"It's not knowing that's the problem."
