A senior police officer in charge of the Constance Marten and Mark Gordon says the baby "may have been dead for some time".

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford revealed the information while speaking at a press conderence today, Thursday, March 2.

He said it is believed the baby may have been dead for “several weeks”.

He said: “My team has been working on this investigation for the past eight weeks and we have travelled across the country as part of our searches for this baby.

“We are all truly devastated by the outcome and we know this emotion is also being felt here in Brighton and across the country today.

“While there are still many unanswered questions it is important that we give the investigation team the time and space they need to establish more details about the circumstances of this tragic death.

“At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and a post-mortem examination has not yet taken place.

“Despite this, based on the inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe, sadly, the baby had been dead for several weeks before they were found. It’s too early for us to provide a more specific date.”

READ MORE: Search for Constance Marten’s baby ends in tragedy as remains found

The Bolton News: Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford (Image: PA)

“Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This is standard protocol for such circumstances.”

Police are continuing to search the area where the remains of a baby were found after an aristocrat and her boyfriend were arrested without their child on Monday.

Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect after a passer-by spotted them in Brighton.

READ MORE: Missing aristocrat Constance Marten and partner arrested

They were re-arrested the following day on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and the remains of a baby were found on Wednesday.

The couple had been on the run since January 5 when their car was found abandoned and on fire next to the M61 in Bolton.

The pair remain in custody after police were granted a 36-hour custody extension by city magistrates on Wednesday.