This was the latest report on the UK Daily Mail website five mins ago
Police divers searching for a celebrity florist who disappeared three days ago with her disabled daughter have today recovered two bodies from a lake behind their home.
Jude Richmond, 41, and Millie Whitehead-Richmond, 9, who has cerebral palsy, were last seen leaving their home on Sunday night.
Their disappearance sparked a widespread search and heartbreaking appeals from the girl's father for her to return home.
But police divers this morning found the bodies of a 'young girl' and an 'adult female'
Police are now stepping up the search for a mystery man seen with his arm around Jude's shoulders in an 'affectionate yet firm' manner an hour before she disappeared.
Jude's ex-partner Neil Whitehead, 54, Millie's father, who travelled from London to the area on Tuesday is said to be 'devastated' by news of the discovery.
Her estranged husband Nick Richmond, who currently lives in New Zealand, was informed at 1.30pm after he landed at Heathrow Airport to join the search.
The two bodies will now be taken to a nearby hospital for formal identification before post-mortem examinations are conducted to find the cause of death.
Kate Nelmes, spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police, revealed they have now stepped up the search for the 'mystery man.'
She said: 'Police dive teams found the body of a young girl at 10.20am and the body of an adult female shortly after 11.30am.'
She said: 'The two bodies were found in the water less than 50 yds from Jude Richmond's home. Neil Whitehead and Nick Richmond will both now be informed in person.
'The two bodies have not been formally identified yet but that and post-mortem examinations will probably be carried out by Thursday.
'Finding these bodies makes it even more important that we speak to the mystery man seen before Jude and Millie disappeared.
'It is a moving situation at the moment and we are keeping all lines of enquiry open. We are still searching for this man but not on suspicion of murder until we know more.'
Yesterday the girl's father, Neil Whitehead, had begged his only child and former partner to get in touch.
Describing Millie as 'the most special person' in his life, he added
Speaking outside the Richmond's £550,000 lake side home yesterday, Mr Whitehead, 54, said their disappearance was a 'complete mystery'.
The architect said he could not understand why Mrs Richmond, a 'completely dedicated mother', would have left all of his daughter's specialist mobility equipment behind.
She is also believed to have left home without her car keys, credit cards and hand bag after being seen with the 'mystery man' who had his arms around her.
Mr Whitehead's message came after it emerged that Mrs Richmond and her daughter had just returned from an extended break in New Zealand with Mrs Richmond's stockbroker husband.
The family had been there together for two and half months, and considered emigrating, but Mrs Richmond and Millie returned to the village of South Cerney, Gloucestershire last week alone.
