Police search allotments and undergrowth for missing baby after couple arrested in Brighton
Watch: ITV News Meridian's James Dunham reports on the police search for the missing baby
A huge search operation continues to find a missing baby, following the arrest of a couple in Brighton.
The baby's parents, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, had been travelling off-grid around the UK by taxi since their car was found burning on the M61 in Bolton on January 5.
They were located by officers from Sussex Police in Stanmer Villas, Brighton on Monday night (27 February) after a member of the public reported seeing them shortly before 9.30pm.
Their 250-mile journey south brought them to Newhaven, where it is believed they had been living in a tent, under the radar.
Police have been searching Roedale Valley Allotments near to where the couple were arrested, combing through surrounding undergrowth for the two-month-old baby.
Two uniformed officers could be seen guarding the entrance to Golf Drive from Stanmer Villas.
A police cordon is in place, with officers from both Sussex and the MET working together on the search.
The baby has not had any medical attention since birth in early January, and it is unknown if the baby was full-term or has any health issues.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford from the Metropolitan Police said time was of the essence to find the baby
He said: "We've always said the hardest investigation is around locating the baby. The temperatures have gone below zero.
"The plea at the moment is, while police conduct an open search, for members of the public and the local area from here and Newhaven, to be vigilant, to look into their own property areas and their own surroundings."
At the time, Mr Basford said about 50 officers were working on the case at any one time and more than 630 hours of CCTV had been viewed.
He said there had been more than 350 calls to police from the public with information following previous appeals.
Anyone who may be able to assist in the search for the couple’s baby is urged to contact 999.
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