Worker speaks of body discovery

A Shropshire construction firm boss has spoken of his horror after discovering a body in undergrowth while working in the Black Country.

Gary Bruniges, of Sutton Heights, Telford, made the discovery while he was doing maintenance work in Oldbury on Tuesday.

Police believe the body found near the M5 is that of 75-year-old pensioner Margaret Elliott, who has been missing for six months.

The Alzheimer's sufferer has not been seen since she went missing from her home in Oldbury in June last year.

Father-of-one Gary, 27, who runs construction and groundwork company GES Solutions in Telford, said: "It's not the kind of thing you expect to come across and it knocked me about a bit.

"It was a real shock. My thoughts are with this person's family at what must be a very distressing time."

A huge search operation was mounted for former teacher Mrs Elliott after she went missing with more than 200 people spending hours to try and find the pensioner.

Jaspreet Jagdev, spokeswoman for West Midlands Police, said: "Police can confirm that the body found on Demuth Way, Oldbury is that of a woman.

"One of the current lines of inquiry for the investigation is whether it is that of missing person Margaret Elliott."

Mrs Elliott's family have been told of the discovery.