Two 15-year-olds held after girl found dead

Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenage girl was found dead in woodland in rural Wales.

The body of Rebecca Aylward, also 15, was discovered near the village of Aberkenfig, south Wales, on Sunday morning. A post-mortem examination revealed that she died of head injuries.

The Year 11 pupil at Archbishop McGrath Catholic Comprehensive School in Tondu, Bridgend, had last been seen at 12.30pm on Saturday in Sarn, when she was dropped off to visit a friend. Her mother raised the alarm that evening when she failed to return home to nearby Maesteg.

Officers searched a patch of woodland near a roadside for hours before Rebecca's body was found, at 9am on Sunday. The two boys, who live locally, were later arrested on suspicion of murder.

Last night the girl's family released a statement saying they were "shattered" by her death.

"Rebecca, also known as Becca, was dearly loved by all her family," it read. "She was loved by everyone including all her aunts, uncles and cousins. She will be sadly missed. She was a very happy young girl; she had an outgoing and bubbly personality."

One resident who lives at the edge of the woods said young people regularly gathered there after dark.