Essex Police take over the search for a missing mother and her newborn baby after they were spotted

Essex Police has officially taken over the search for a missing mother and her newborn baby after they were spotted in both Harwich Port and Colchester after their disappearance. 

Constance Marten, her partner Mark Gordon and the baby have been missing since their vehicle broke down near junction four of the M61, near Bolton, on Thursday evening. 

The family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas. 

Initial enquiries suggest that Ms Marten has very recently given birth and neither she or her baby have been assessed by medical professionals. 

Constance Marten, left, went missing with her partner Mark Gordon and newborn baby on Thursday evening. Neither Ms Marten or her baby have received professional medical assistance since the birth, it is believed

The mother ‘may have been spotted twice in Essex’ – once in Harwich Port and again in Colchester 

Essex Police have been liaising with colleagues of Greater Manchester Police in search for the missing couple after a number of sightings were reported in north Essex on Saturday – around 200 miles away from where their car broke down. 

Ms Marten was possibly seen first wrapped in a red blanket near Harwich Port at 9am on Saturday and then again in Colchester around an hour later.   

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston of Essex Police 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.

After her car broke down on the M61 near Bolton on Thursday evening, Ms Marten was possibly first spotted wrapped in a red blanket in Harwich Port, Essex on Saturday at 9am

‘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.’

He added: ‘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.’

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the couple and their child is urged to call 101 immediately.