Family of Kayleigh Haywood 'left heartbroken'
The family of Kayleigh Haywood have thanked the local communities in Leicestershire for their overwhelming support.
The 15-year-old was last seen last Friday when she was dropped off outside Ibstock Community College, in Central Avenue, at 6pm.
Last night, detectives searching for the teenager discovered a body on land in Ibstock and this morning confirmed that it is believed to be Kayleigh.
Formal identification has not yet taken place.
A statement released on behalf of the family said:
"We are heartbroken, grief stricken and as a family, utterly devastated. There are no words to express the way we are feeling.
“We cannot even begin to thank the local communities and wider public for their messages of support which have helped us through the last week. We are also grateful for the publicity the media have given to Kayleigh’s disappearance and the desperate search to find her.
“We would now ask that everyone respects our need for privacy at this harrowing time.”