POLICE have found a body in the search for missing mum Rachel Booth after she vanished in the early hours of Saturday.

Photo of Rachel Booth, a missing woman.
The mum-of-three is described as 5ft 9in tall, of a slim build, and with blonde hair
Credit: Facebook

Illustration of a map showing the timeline of a missing woman's last known locations.

Police vans at Delamere Lake in Cheshire.
Police descended on Delamere Lake in Cheshire today
Credit: mancpicss66

Police searching a lake.
Police seen searching the lake at Delamere for the missing mum
Credit: mancpicss66
The 38-year-old failed to return home to the village of Barnton, Cheshire, and an urgent hunt was launched.

Police today scoured the surrounding area of Wild Shore Delamere water sports park – which is around two miles away from the petrol station where she was seen.

The search met a tragic end this afternoon, and many questions have cropped up concerning the circumstances in which she vanished.

They last saw her in the village of Barnton, where they live.

The “very active” mum had gone jogging and never returned.

Locals said she has three boys in school and was “always pleasant” to talk to.

At a Premier store in Barnton, the area where Rachel lived, staff and customers were shocked by her disappearance.

Raj Kaur, 30, who works at the shop, said: “She is a lovely clever lady – always coming in here for her parcels.

“She is very active and very nice we all liked her.”

A middle-aged mum, who declined to give her name, said: “I knew her from the school and she was always pleasant – she has three boys at the school.”

Cheshire Police have confirmed that a body “believed to be that of Rachel” has been found in a lake in Oakmere.

Formal identification is yet to take place but the woman’s family have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers.

They have requested privacy at this time, cops added.

Police said there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Photo of Rachel Booth, a missing woman from Northwich.
Rachel was last seen in running gear
Credit: Cheshire Police

Woman in black dress standing against a white wall with flowerpots.
Officers tragically reported that a body was found in their search
Credit: Facebook

Photo of Rachel Booth, missing woman.
Cops were increasingly concerned for her welfare
Credit: Facebook

What happened after Rachel’s trip to petrol station?

Rachel was last seen at Sandiway Garage in the Northwich area of Cheshire with her disappearance baffling cops.

She had entered the Shell garage on the A556 to buy milk and wine before she vanished.

This is nearly seven miles away from her home.

The mum was seen wearing black leggings and a black top, after she went jogging.

Issac Carolan, 19, who works at the garage, told The Sun: “I spoke to my colleague who had served her on Saturday morning.”

He added: “But it didn’t seem weird, she didn’t seem disturbed or flustered.”

When beginning to search for Rachel, cops said they believed she travelled to the Oakmere area, near a holiday park.

Police were spotted at the Wild Shore Delamere water sports park in Northwich – which is nearly nine miles away from her home.

They deployed sniffer dogs to help with the desperate search.

Underwater search teams were also recruited to help scour the waters for Rachel.

CCTV image of a woman in a black tank top and leggings, walking in a store.
CCTV captured Rachel Booth at a petrol station at around 3.50am on Saturday
Credit: Cheshire Police

Timeline of Rachel Booth’s disappearance

July 19

Rachel’s family reported her missing in the early hours of Saturday morning when she failed to return home from a jog.

3.50am

Rachel is seen on CCTV at a Shell petrol station on the A556.

This is nearly seven miles away from her home.

She was wearing black leggings and a black top.

Staff said she came in from a 45 minute jog to buy wine and milk, and nothing seemed amiss.

3.55am

A local family believe they saw Rachel walk past their house after leaving the petrol station, where she bought wine and milk.

12.30-1.15

Passersby spot a woman matching Rachel’s description who appeared to be hitchhiking.

A post on Facebook read: “Isn’t this who we saw before on the way to Crewe?”

They said the woman matching Rachel’s description was sighted between 12.30 and 1.15 on Saturday.

The witness didn’t specify if they spotted the woman in the morning or afternoon.

But she was wearing a yellow jacket or cardigan instead of gym gear.

July 20

Police begin searching by a holiday park as they believe Rachel may have travelled there.

They have deployed sniffer dogs to help with the desperate search.

Underwater search teams were recruited to help scour the waters for Rachel.

June 21

Officers sadly recovered a body in a lake in Oakmere.

Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be that of Rachel.

Her family have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers. They have requested privacy at this time.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Cops said as part of the investigation, agencies, including the Underwater Search Team and Cheshire Search and Rescue, were carrying out enquiries in the Oakmere and surrounding areas where it is believed Rachel travelled to.

Wild Shore Delamere, a water-based adventure hub, said: “We have been notified by Cheshire Police that following extensive appeals and searches in the area, officers have now sadly recovered a body in a lake in Oakmere.

“Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be that of Rachel. Our thoughts are with Rachel’s family and those deeply affected by the news.

“As our waterparks are situated on the opposite side of the lake, we have made the decision to remain closed tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd July) as a mark of respect.

“If your booking is affected by this closure, please contact our customer services team. We’ll be happy to arrange a refund or reschedule your session for a later date.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Police officers and a police dog in a boat searching a lake.
Underwater search teams were brought in this morning to assist
Credit: mancpicss66

Police officer at a road closure.
Police closed Delamere Lake to frantically search for Rachel on Sunday
Credit: mancpicss66

Sign indicating directions to Wild Shore Watersports & Aqua Park, including parking information.
A water park said it is not connected to the investigation but shut its doors so the police could search nearby
Credit: PP.

Who did witnesses see hitchhiking?

Before the body was uncovered, many witnesses claimed to have spotted Rachel – or a woman who looked like her.

A post on Facebook read: “Isn’t this who we saw before on the way to Crewe?”

They said the woman matching Rachel’s description was sighted between 12.30 and 1.15 on Saturday, near a farmshop about 13 miles away from Barnton.

But she was wearing a yellow jacket or cardigan instead of gym gear.

A family also believed they sighted Rachel walking past their house five minutes after she was seen at the Shell garage.

The local mum said: “I am fairly sure it’s her that walked past my house at 3.55am. I have a video.”

Rachel’s mum shared one post claiming people had seen her hitchhiking.

Police officer with sniffer dog at Delamere Lake Sailing & Holiday Park.
Cops were seen scouring the area with sniffer dogs
Credit: Zenpix

Closed gate with police tape across a road.
The area was cordoned off
Credit: mancpicss66

Police officer with dog searching for Rachel Booth in Delamere.
Police at Delamere looking for Rachel Booth
Credit: PP.