Body found in field a week after Leeds pensioner, 88, went missing

Officers searching for 88-year-old Joyce Bowman, from Halton, were notified of the discovery of the body in a field at Ovenden Wood today at around 9.30am.

It comes a week after the pensioner was reported missing after leaving Leeds bus station bound for Halifax last Friday morning.

Miss Bowman, who lived alone, was known to use her free bus pass every day to take trips across the north but friends and family became worried after she failed to attend a service at Christ Church, in Halton, on Sunday and then missed a planned dinner.

When relatives visited her house there was unopened mail on the doormat, suggesting she had not been home for at least 24 hours.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said formal identification of the body has yet to take place, while Miss Bowman’s family and the Coroner’s office have been informed.

He added: “The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Earlier this week the pensioner’s family launched an impassioned plea for members of the public to come forward with information as to her whereabouts.

Miss Bowman, who had memory problems, had no plans to stay away overnight.

She had been reported missing once before but on that occasion was found in Colne, Lancashire, within hours.