02 March 2023 , 17:12
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Mackenzie Crook's sister-in-law has been confirmed dead by police after a body was found.
The body has been formally identified as that of Laurel Aldridge, police have confirmed.
The 62-year-old, who was the sister-in-law of actor Mackenzie, was last seen leaving her home in Walberton, near Arundel, West Sussex, on 14 February.
Over the weekend, Laurel's family paid tribute to her as a body was found in the search for her.
Though police were unable to formally confirm the identity of the victim, Laurel's son paid tribute to his late mother and shared how she "was found lying in a beautiful woodland".
The Office star 'really worried' and begs public to help find missing relative
Laurel Aldridge's family paid tribute to her over the weekend (PA)Matthew Aldridge, Mackenzie's nephew, said of his 62-year-old mother: "She is now at peace."
Writing on Facebook, he shared: "After a long and exhausting search, today we found Laurel.
"We will miss her every day, but we are so proud of everything she achieved in her 62 years on this earth.
"Laurel was a wonderful, creative, fiercely-intelligent person, who taught us all the meaning of empathy, dependability, and love."
Actor Mackenzie appeared on national TV shows to appeal for any information about his missing sister-in-law (ITV)He added: "We as a family are broken by what has happened, but we have each other, we have our friends, and we have the support of the local community, who have so kindly rallied around us during this difficult time. We will never forget what you have done for us."
"For the time being, we are asking for privacy so that we can be together as a family and process our loss."
Both Matthew and Mackenzie shared public appeals to help find Laurel, who was reported missing from her home in Walberton, in the Arundel area of West Sussex, on 14 February.
Laurel was last seen on Valentine's Day before leaving her home in Walberton (SUSSEX POLICE/UNPIXS)
Mackenzie worried his sister-in-law had gone missing amid her ongoing chemotherapy treatment (Dave Benett/Getty Images)On Good Morning Britain earlier this month, The Office actor Mackenzie mused how his sister-in-law's disappearance could have been linked to her chemotherapy treatment.
"She was diagnosed with cancer last year and she missed her fifth chemo session last Tuesday and we think that’s what has triggered some sort of crisis in her and she’s gone off for a long walk somewhere … we are really clutching at straws now after a week," he said on the ITV show.
On Saturday, Sussex Police confirmed a body had been found but they were still waiting to confirm the victim's identity.
Police issue update on Mackenzie Crook's 'vulnerable' missing sister-in-law
Missing person posters had been put up on lampposts, tree trunks and in windows throughout the village where she was last seen (PA)
Mackenzie has spoken publicly about the situation (Dave Benett/Getty Images)A statement from the force read: "Sadly, the body of a woman has been found in the Tortington Lane area of Arundel.
"At this stage, the family of missing Laurel Aldridge have been informed and we are seeking to confirm the identity of the woman."
In the weeks since she disappeared, missing posters had been put up on lampposts, tree trunks and in windows throughout the village where she was last seen.