Mourners are continuing to lay flowers and light candles in tribute to a young woman after a body was found yesterday.

Wellwishers have been coming to the bandstand on The Leas in Folkestone, where last night an emotional vigil was held for Leah Daley.

The 24-year-old went missing on Sunday, May 5, and was last seen at The Warren, a beauty spot along the coast from Folkestone towards Dover.

Yesterday, the 12-day search for Leah came to an end after police confirmed a body had been discovered.

Hundreds of people gathered around the bandstand at 9pm yesterday evening, with mourners leaving floral tributes, lighting candles and placing pebbles with hand-written messages.

A card affixed to one of the bouquets reads: “Rest in peace Leah. Sending love and strength to all those who loved you.”

This afternoon a steady stream of people have been coming to the bandstand, spending a few moments in quiet contemplation.

Some have come with flowers, and others have been relighting some of the scores of candles arranged around a photograph of Leah.

Kent Police confirmed the discovery of a body in undergrowth at The Warren shortly after 3pm yesterday.

Officers taped off part of the area during the afternoon, but all cordons were lifted by the early evening.

A spokesman for the force said: “A body has been found during a search for a missing woman from Folkestone.

“While formal identification has not yet taken place, the family of a 24-year-old woman who was reported missing from the town has been informed.”

Extensive searches had been carried out in the area where the body was discovered, with many members of the public joining Leah’s family in the effort to locate her.

In a statement released in the days prior to yesterday’s news that a body had been found, the family described her disappearance as “totally out of character”.

They said: “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.”