Whinlatter Forest, scene of the discovery

A walker has found a woman’s body in a Lake District wood.

The man, an off-duty police officer, made the discovery in the Whinlatter Forest yesterday, Thursday, about 11.15am.

Detective Inspector Adrian Johnson, of Cumbria Constabulary, who is in charge of the hunt for a missing mother of four from nearby Thornthwaite, said: “Members of the public will be aware that Dr Deborah Anne Pearson was reported missing in the area in December 2010.

“We are now working to formally identify the body of the woman and the missing person enquiry will continue however Dr Pearson’s family has been informed of the discovery.”

More than 60 mountain rescue team members took part in the search for Dr Pearson in late December.

Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team was joined by colleagues from the Kirkby Stephen, Patterdale, Penrith, Keswick and Wasdale teams in the search led by police search advisers.

Dr Pearson, whose family has been informed

The operation centred on the Thornthwaite, Whinlatter, Moorgill, Noble Knott and Lord’s Seat areas. Dr Pearson’s car was found by police abandoned in a car park near Whinlatter Forest visitor centre on Wednesday 22 December after she went missing from her home the previous day.

The mountain rescue teams were stood down today after failing to find Dr Pearson.
Previous searches included a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer and the Lancashire Police helicopter using heat-seeking and night-vision equipment to help them see in the snow.

The body has now been recovered and a post mortem will take place. The coroner for West and North Cumbria David Roberts has been informed.