Police have said they 'do not wish to interrupt the family life' of a missing couple and their newborn baby as a search to find them continues.
Officers are trying to track down Constance Marten, who is said to have given birth 'very recently', and the baby's father Mark Gordon. The pair were spotted at around 6.30pm last Thursday (January 5) after their car broke down near junction four of the M61 at Farnworth in Bolton.
Police said the family safely left the motorway on foot - then walked to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas. Since then, a number of sightings have been reported in north Essex.
In an update issued last night (January 10), Essex Police - who have taken over the investigation while working with Greater Manchester Police - said they believe the family travelled to Liverpool initially, before being spotted in Harwich port at around 9am on Saturday morning. Police said there is also a confirmed sighting of Mark, Constance and the baby in Colchester about an hour later.
Neither Constance nor the baby are believe to have been seen by doctors since the birth. Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston, of Essex Police, pleaded with members of the public in Colchester, and the wider Essex area, to familiarise themselves with both Constance and Mark's faces.
He said: "Clearly, the overriding concern that we share with our colleagues at Greater Manchester Police is for Mark and Constance’s new-born child. We do not wish to interrupt their family life; this search is primarily to ensure the welfare of the couple’s child.
"We are carrying out a number of enquires in and around Colchester in order to locate them. We’re also liaising with colleagues at British Transport Police around potential onward travel from Colchester.
"I would ask the people of Colchester, and indeed wider north Essex, to please familiarise yourself with Mark and Constance’s faces and report any sightings to us immediately."
Previously, Greater Manchester Police's Head of Public Protection, Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, issued a direct plea to Constance. She said: "As a mum, I would like to make a direct appeal to Constance.
"Constance, I know this is an exceptionally hard time for you and you are likely feeling scared but I promise that our number one priority is the same as yours – to keep your beautiful new born safe.
"As you know, it’s really important that both you and your baby are assessed by medical professionals as soon as possible so please make contact with emergency services or make your way to your nearest hospital, wherever that may be. I would also like to appeal to members of the public – not just in Bolton but across Greater Manchester and beyond."
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the couple and their child should call police on 101 immediately.
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