Police searching for missing Didsbury woman who vanished after going out for a walk have found a body

Police searching for a Manchester woman who went missing in Preston on Friday night have found a body, it emerged tonight.

Rachel Jackson, 38, from Didsbury, was last seen around 7pm yesterday (Friday, March 31) in the Wadham Road area of Avenham in Preston. She had travelled from Manchester to visit friends in Preston and had spent the evening with them before saying that she needed to get some air and go out for ten minutes.

She never returned. Friends had earlier told LancsLive that after she left the property, she did not return, and gave no indication before she left as to where she was going.

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Tonight Lancashire Police confirmed the body of a woman has been found in Avenham Park.

A statement from the force said: "Earlier today (Saturday, April 1) police found the body of a woman in Avenham Park. While she has yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be Rachel. Her next of kin have been informed.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to HM Coroner. Our thoughts are with Rachel’s family and friends at this very sad and difficult time."

At the time she went missing, a description of Rachel was published and she was described as white, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 7in tall, slim and with blonde dreadlocks. She was last seen wearing a multi-coloured ski jacket, bright coloured Pokemon jeans with black swirls and orange trainers.

She was also carrying a pastel coloured 'Barcelona' shoulder bag and has an old-style purple Raleigh bicycle with her. As well as having links to Preston and Manchester, Rachel has links to Blackpool too.