A body was found last night in the Avon Gorge by police probing a new mother's disappearance.

Officers had been searching for Charlotte Bevan after she walked out of Bristol Maternity Hospital dressed only in thin hospital slippers, with her newborn daughter wrapped in a blanket.

CCTV footage taken at the hospital shows Miss Bevan, 30, clutching four-day-old Zaani Tiana as she calmly walked off the ward, past several nurses and left the hospital through a main entrance.

Scroll down for videos Police activity near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the Avon Gorge after reports that a body has been found+55

Police activity near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the Avon Gorge after reports that a body has been foundA helicopter could be seen overhead+55Police were searching in the Bristol area+55

The force's helicopter remained in the area to assist the continuing searches by police officers on the groundOfficers had been searching for mother Charlotte Bevan after she walked out of Bristol Maternity Hospital+55

Officers had been searching for mother Charlotte Bevan after she walked out of Bristol Maternity HospitalAmbulance: Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said formal identification would not take place until today+55

Ambulance: Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said formal identification would not take place until todayThis is the moment missing mother Charlotte Bevan walked out of hospital with her newborn baby daughter dressed only in thin hospital slippers with her child wrapped in a blanket+55

This is the moment missing mother Charlotte Bevan walked out of hospital with her newborn baby daughter dressed only in thin hospital slippers with her child wrapped in a blanket

Her disappearance more than 24 hours ago on Tuesday night sparked a widespread police search as her worried mother and boyfriend pleaded with her to come home.

But last night, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: �We can confirm that the body of a woman has been found in the Avon Gorge in Bristol [yesterday] evening.RELATED ARTICLES

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�Formal identification will not take place until [today]. The family of Charlotte Bevan, who was reported missing [Monday] night, have been informed of this development.�

The force added that its helicopter remained in the area to assist the continuing searches by police officers on the ground. CCTV shows Charlotte Bevan leaving Bristol Maternity Hospital

+55Ms Bevan with her baby daughter Zaani Tiana+55

New mother: Miss Bevan is seen clutching her newborn daughter Zaani Tiana to her chest as she walked out of the Bristol Maternity Hospital on Tuesday nightCaught on camera: The CCTV footage shows Miss Bevan walking down a hospital corridor alone+55

Caught on camera: The CCTV footage shows Miss Bevan walking down a hospital corridor aloneSeen on screen: The footage was released by police yesterday afternoon as they continue their search+55

Seen on screen: The footage was released by police yesterday afternoon as they continue their searchVideo footage: Miss Bevan is then seen walking around a corner before emerging with the little girl+55

Video footage: Miss Bevan is then seen walking around a corner before emerging with the little girlExit: Now holding her newborn daughter, whose blanket can be seen here, Miss Bevan is shown walking towards a set of double doors+55

Exit: Now holding her newborn daughter, whose blanket can be seen here, Miss Bevan is shown walking towards a set of double doorsClothing: Miss Bevan appears to be wearing just a pair of leggings and a jumper. She has no coat and no socks, with just a thin pair of hospital slippers on her feet+55

Clothing: Miss Bevan appears to be wearing just a pair of leggings and a jumper. She has no coat and no socks, with just a thin pair of hospital slippers on her feetLeaving: Miss Bevan holds her daughter as she pushes a button to release the lock on the door+55

Leaving: Miss Bevan holds her daughter as she pushes a button to release the lock on the door

Pascal Malbrouck, 37, Miss Bevan�s boyfriend and Zaani's father, had earlier issue

d a heartfelt plea for her to �please come back�.

He told a press conference: �Charlotte, please come back, you're welcome any time. The last two days as a family was amazing and I really want to do that for much longer. I'm waiting for you.�

Her mother, Rachel Fortune, 59, also appealed for her daughter to get in touch, telling her: �We all really enjoyed seeing you be such a good mother. Let's go forward with that.

�Please get in touch. We all love you. Just get in touch, please get in touch.�

Open door: She then leaves the corridor and walks into a lobby area of the hospital+55

Open door: She then leaves the corridor and walks into a lobby area of the hospitalArms full: Miss Bevan calmly pushes open the door and walks into the lobby with her little girl in her arms+55

Arms full: Miss Bevan calmly pushes open the door and walks into the lobby with her little girl in her armsDesperate: The CCTV was released following an emotional appeal by Miss Bevan's boyfriend Pascal Malbrouk, and her mother Rachel Fortune+55

Desperate: The CCTV was released following an emotional appeal by Miss Bevan's boyfriend Pascal Malbrouk, and her mother Rachel FortuneWidespread: Miss Bevan's disappearance last night has prompted a huge police search+55

Widespread: Miss Bevan's disappearance last night has prompted a huge police searchUnnoticed: The new mother looks down at her daughter Zaani Tiana while she walks past three hospital staff members who are crowded round a vending machine+55

Unnoticed: The new mother looks down at her daughter Zaani Tiana while she walks past three hospital staff members who are crowded round a vending machineUnchallenged: After strolling past what looks like a reception desk, she leaves the hospital through two sets of automatic doors and steps onto the street outside+55

Unchallenged: After strolling past what looks like a reception desk, she leaves the hospital through two sets of automatic doors and steps onto the street outsideParents to be: Ms Bevan with Mr Malbrouck before their birth of their baby daughter +55Ms Bevan in the late stages of her pregnancy+55

Parents to be: Miss Bevan with Mr Malbrouck before their birth of their baby daughter (left) and the new mother in the late stages of her pregnancy (right)Loving father: Miss Bevan's boyfriend Pascal Malbrouk, 37, pleaded: 'Please come back.'You're welcome any time. The last two days as a family were amazing and I

really want to do that for much longer'+55

Loving father: Miss Bevan's boyfriend Pascal Malbrouk, 37, pleaded: 'Please come back.'You're welcome any time. The last two days as a family were amazing and I really want to do that for much longer'

Police said they were �concerned� for the welfare of the mother and baby, who were both believed to be severely under-dressed for the cold weather.

Officers were �urgently� hunting for the pair, and appealed directly to Miss Bevan to get in touch and let them know she and her baby were safe and well.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Crisp said Miss Bevan had been making �great progress� and was due to be discharged from hospital in a day or two.

But she shocked staff by walking out on Tuesday night and not telling anyone where she was going. Praise: Her mother Rachel Fortune, 57, described Charlotte as 'such a good mother' and begged her to get in touch with worried family members +55

Praise: Her mother Rachel Fortune, 57, described Charlotte as 'such a good mother' and begged her to get in touch with worried family members

Partner and mum's emotional plea to missing CharlotteWorried: Mr Malbrouck (right) yesterday issued a desperate plea for information after his girlfriend Miss Bevan (left) vanished from hospital with their four-day-old baby daughter, Zaani Tiana+55

Worried: Mr Malbrouck (right) yesterday issued a desperate plea for information after his girlfriend Miss Bevan (left) vanished from hospital with their four-day-old baby daughter, Zaani TianaBoyfriend: Mr Malbrouck, pictured today, said Ms Bevan was happy before she gave birth and could think of no reason why she would go missing+55Mr Malbrouck said he had left the hospital at 8.30pm last night+55

Boyfriend: Mr Malbrouck, pictured yesterday, said Miss Bevan was happy before she gave birth and could think of no reason why she would go missingHome: Mr Malbrouck lives with Miss Bevan in a £125,000 three-bedroom flat on this road in Bristol+55

Home: Mr Malbrouck lives with Miss Bevan in a £125,000 three-bedroom flat on this road in BristolFather: Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Malbrouck said: 'My daughter has gone missing with her mum Charlotte Bevan, please if anyone has got any info or has seen her please contact me'

Father: Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Malbrouck said: 'My daughter has gone missing with her mum Charlotte Bevan, please if anyone has got any info or has seen her please contact me'Heading the search: Detective Chief Inspector, Simon Crisp, who is leading the search, urged Charlotte to make contact with friends, family or police+55

Heading the search: Detective Chief Inspector, Simon Crisp, who is leading the s

earch, urged Charlotte to make contact with friends, family or policeUnexpected: DCI Crisp said police were worried about Miss Bevan because she had left the hospital 'so unexpectedly' without telling anyone where she was going+55

Unexpected: DCI Crisp said police were worried about Miss Bevan because she had left the hospital 'so unexpectedly' without telling anyone where she was going

She left hospital without a coat or shoes, wearing just a pair of hospital slippers, a long black top and black trousers.

Friends have said Miss Bevan was part of a �happy couple� and her disappearance was totally �out of character�.

Just hours before she went missing, Miss Bevan posted a self-help video on her Facebook page called Get Through Positive And Negative Thinking Rough Patches.'Heartbroken': Mr Malbrouck, who is originally from French territory Reunion in the Indian Ocean, added an emoticon to his plea for help which read 'feeling heartbroken'+55

'Heartbroken': Mr Malbrouck, who is originally from French territory Reunion in the Indian Ocean, added an emoticon to his plea for help which read 'feeling heartbroken'Police search Bristol town centre for missing mother and babyEvidence: Officers were seen removing wheelie bins sealed in black plastic from inside a cordon close to the hospital where Miss Bevan was last seen. However, police later confirmed nothing had been found+55

Evidence: Officers were seen removing wheelie bins sealed in black plastic from inside a cordon close to the hospital where Miss Bevan was last seen. However, police later confirmed nothing had been foundRemoval: Two officers were seen placing the bin into a police van as the search for Miss Bevan continued+55

Removal: Two officers were seen placing the bin into a police van as the search for Miss Bevan continuedBlocked: The cordon in the road was put in place at around 11am and widened half an hour later. The cordon has now been lifted and the route re-opened+55

Blocked: The cordon in the road was put in place at around 11am and widened half an hour later. The cordon has now been lifted and the route re-openedTests: Officers close to the van where the bin was placed. It was believed to have been taken away for testing but police later said the line of enquiry relating to the bin had been closed+55

Tests: Officers close to the van where the bin was placed. It was believed to have been taken away for testing but police later said the line of enquiry relating to the bin had been closedPolice operation: Officers remove the bin from outside Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation for families with children in hospital+55Some of the bins, which had been sealed up in plastic bags, were seen being removed from the scene by officers+55

Police operation: Officers remove the bin from outside Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation for families with children in hospitalCordon: Officers have cordoned off an area around rubbish bins, 200 yards from the hospital+55

Cordon: Officers have cordoned off an area around rubbish bins, 200 yards from the hospitalSealed off: Part of the road had been cordoned off following one of a number of reported sightings+55

Sealed off: Part of the road had been cordoned off following one of a number of reported sightingsMission: Officers have been searching Bristol city centre throughout the night to try to find Miss Bevan+55

Mission: Officers have been searching Bristol city centre throughout the night to try to find Miss BevanSearching for evidence: A forensic officer takes photographs of one of the bins inside the police cordon+55

Searching for evidence: A forensic officer takes photographs of one of the bins inside the police cordon

But earlier this month she had posted happy pictures of herself with her baby bump on the social networking site, where she also described herself as a �free spirit�.

Describing herself, she wrote: �I am free open-minded individual I love music, art, dancing and making clothes.

�I'm a free spirit open minded and individual I appreciate people for who they are kind or nasty they all need love.�

Isaac McCardle, a friend of the couple, told of the fraught hunt to find Miss Bevan and Zaani Tiana.

Probe: Police say a number of possible sightings of the mother and baby are being investigated+55

Probe: Police say a number of possible sightings of the mother and baby are being investigatedInvolved: Police officers involved in the search for missing mother Miss Bevan and her daughter+55

Involved: Police officers involved in the search for missing mother Miss Bevan and her daughterInvestigation: A forensic expert joins two other officer as he gathers evidence inside the cordon

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