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Vigil held in memory of Leah Daley from Folkestone after body found following search

By: Dan Wright dwright@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 21:40, 17 May 2024

Updated: 21:48, 18 May 2024

Hundreds of mourners have gathered at a candlelit vigil to pay tribute to a 24-year-old woman after a body was found today.

Leah Daley was last seen at The Warren along the coast in Folkestone at 7pm on Sunday, May 5.

Many tributes have been left at the The Leas bandstand in Folkestone in memory of Leah Daley, 24. Picture: Rhys Griffiths
Hundreds of mourners have gathered at The Leas bandstand to remember Leah. Picture: Rhys Griffiths

A huge effort was launched to locate her - including police appeals, a rapidly growing Facebook group called Leah’s Search and the circulating of the hashtag #findleahdaley.

But the 12-day search came to a tragic end today as police confirmed a body had been discovered in undergrowth at The Warren this afternoon.

This evening, scores of mourners have met at The Leas bandstand to remember the Folkestone resident.

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Leah's family said they were keen for the whole community to attend the event, which started at 9pm.

Candles have been lit around the Victorian landmark and many people are laying flowers and leaving tributes.

Leah’s family said her disappearance was “totally out of character”. Picture: Facebook
Candles surround The Leas bandstand in Folkestone. Picture: Rhys Griffiths
Leah Daley’s family said they were keen for the whole community to attend the event at The Leas bandstand in Folkestone. Picture: Rhys Griffiths
Scores of people are attending the vigil at The Leas bandstand in Folkestone. Picture: Rhys Griffiths
Many people are leaving candles and tributes at the bandstand. Picture: Rhys Griffiths
Police taped off The Warren earlier today after a body was found

During the extensive search efforts, Leah’s family released a statement on Tuesday describing her disappearance as “totally out of character”.

They added: “We thank everybody for their support and assistance over the last nine days, especially Leah's friends and the local community who have devoted time, effort and resources to find her.”

Leah had last been seen at the bottom of a concrete path leading from the Martello Tower at The Warren - a local beauty spot with woodland walks, chalk grassland and sea views.

Police taped off part of the area this afternoon, but all cordons were lifted in the early evening.

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