Detectives gathered at a Didcot church tonight as they continued their search for the body of missing teenager Jayden Parkinson.

Police are targeting a grave in the graveyard of All Saints Church in Lydalls Road, close to where searches have been carried out for the missing teenager.

The 17-year-old, a pupil at Didcot Girls’ School until last year, disappeared on Tuesday, December 3 and she was last seen that day, on CCTV, at Didcot Parkway railway station, at about 4.30pm on December 3.

In a press briefing at All Saints Church, Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Murray said: "Late this afternoon, we did have some specific and I believe highly relevant information that led us to concentrate our search to this particular cemetery and a particular grave in this cemetery.

"Police officers will be here overnight and I suspect for a number of days."

The detective added: "We’re in the process of securing this grave and would like to emphasise that the family connected with this grave have been informed.

“We will be here throughout the night and for a number of days.

“A tent has been erected which covers more than the specific grave we are focusing on.

"The families of those in the graves nearby will be contacted by us and reassured that there will be no disturbance to these graves.

"We would ask people not to be concerned, as families who need to be aware will be contacted and reassured by us.

“The investigation could take some time and is a very sensitive and difficult situation so we would like to ask the public and the media to be patient and understanding at this time.”

listen to ‘Oxford Mail talk about Jayden press conference at All Saints, December 17’ on Audioboom

Detectives would not reveal whose grave had been identified or where the latest information had come from.

Shortly before police announced the latest development, officers said they believed there were still people with crucial information on the case who had not yet come forward.

Thames Valley Police have been searching the countryside between Didcot and Upton.

Ben Blakeley, 22, of Christchurch Road in Reading, has today appeared at Oxford Crown Court charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.

A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been remanded in custody accused of helping Blakeley dispose of Jayden’s body.