The body of a nurse has been found in a car in a river hours after she clocked off from a hospital night shift.

Laurie Jayne Jones, 23, was last seen leaving the University hospital of Wales in Cardiff at about 1.40am on Tuesday wearing her blue nurse’s scrubs, and was reported missing after she did not return to her home in Caerphilly.

On Wednesday, Gwent police said the paediatric nurse had been identified as the body of a woman found inside a submerged car near the B4251 in the village of Wyllie, Blackwood, at about 1pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers are not treating her death as suspicious, and were said to be supporting her family.

In a statement, Gwent police said: “Laurie‘s family would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support, and for sharing the appeal to help find Laurie when she was reported as missing. They ask that they are now left alone to grieve in private as a family.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Laurie Jones at this tragic time.”