'I was praying for a better outcome': People devastated by the tragic news about missing walker Joanne Jones

People have been sharing their tributes after the police confirmed they believed they had found the body of a 49-year-old woman who had been missing since Monday. Joanne Jones was last seen at 9.45am on Monday, October 21 in Vale Gardens, Pontypridd, but hadn't been heard from since.

On Saturday evening a statement released by South Wales Police said Ms Jones' family had been informed. "Police officers searching for Joanne Jones, who has been missing since Monday, have recovered the body of a woman," the force said. "Formal identification is yet to take place. Ms Jones’ family and HM Coroner have been informed."

Members of the community joined officers from South Wales Police to help search for Ms Jones, who was believed to have headed towards the Llanwonno Forest area. The forest was scoured by specialist police and dogs as well as concerned friends for several days. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter

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People from the community and further afield have now expressed their sadness following the recent update. In response to the police's confirmation that they had found a woman's body, people have been sharing their tributes and condolences.

On Facebook, one person said it was a "shock to hear this sad news", they added: "many of us, I'm sure, didn't know Joanne personally, but knew her through the sharing of FB posts in the search for her. R.l.P Lovely Lady". Another one said that the news was "absolutely devastating" and said their "thoughts are with her family and friends".

Others praised the police and community efforts in their search for her. One said: "We were all hoping for a happy ending. I think it's amazing what South Wales Police [and] the wider community of Pontypridd have done to find her. They get a lot of stick but they've done so well here, searching in all conditions to bring Joanne home to her family. It's just awful it wasn't a better outcome."

Others said they had known Joanne personally, describing her as the "nicest person you could meet" and that "her lovely smile would light up the room". Another described her as a "beautiful person inside and out".

Another noted that Joanne had been on "all our minds" since it had been announced she was missing. They added: "I'm so saddened to hear this and my thoughts truly go out to her family. We were all hoping for a different outcome".

In their statement on Saturday evening, South Wales Police thanked the community locally for their support. In Pontypridd on Thursday and Friday many joined the search for Ms Jones, while traders stuck posters of the missing woman in their shop windows.

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