Fears missing couple and baby are sleeping in tent in icy temperatures

A couple who disappeared with their newborn baby may be sleeping in a tent in sub-zero temperatures, police have told the BBC.

Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, were last seen with the infant in east London on 7 January.

"No child, especially a tiny, newborn baby, should be forced to endure such dangerous, potentially life-threatening, conditions," police said.

The child was less than a week old at the time of their disappearance.

New CCTV footage shows when they were last seen buying camping gear in Argos in London's Whitechapel area, before unsuccessfully trying to flag down three black cabs.

The Metropolitan Police's detective superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, told the BBC he was "really concerned" the baby could have been subjected to recent harsh weather.

He said: "We're really concerned that a newborn baby, only days old at the time, would have been subjected to the harsh environments we've had in the last couple of weeks.

"We don't believe as a couple that they're looking to intentionally harm the baby, but we do know that those conditions and the fact they've had no medical attention since the birth could be a significant risk to the baby."

The force believes the couple are trying to "evade authorities".

Making a plea directly to the couple, he added: "I can say to Constance and Mark please come forward. This is about the baby's health and wellbeing.

"Please reach out to us."

Detectives think the couple could be anywhere in the country, and have asked dogwalkers to keep an eye out for a blue tent in local parks and wasteland.

New CCTV footage shows the family on the night they were last seen - they walked with a baby buggy along Brick Lane towards Bethnal Green Road in London's East End, before disappearing just after 22:00 GMT on 7 January.

Police say the couple left their home in Eltham, south-east London, in September 2022 when Ms Marten began showing signs of pregnancy, and have since led a nomadic lifestyle.

Detectives do not know if the baby has been assessed by medical professionals since the child's birth, or if the baby was born prematurely or went full term.

The infant has been missing since the parents' car broke down and caught fire on the M61 near Bolton, on 5 January. The baby was believed to be only a day old or so at the time, and could have been born in the vehicle, according to police.

It is believed most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.

Since then, Constance "Toots" Marten and Mark Gordon appear to have been avoiding police, moving to Liverpool, Harwich, Colchester and London in quick succession.

Ms Marten is from a wealthy family, and grew up in a stately home in Dorset attending private school, university and drama school.

But after meeting Gordon in 2016, she became estranged from the family, police said.

Napier Marten, Ms Marten's father, has previously called for his daughter to "find the courage" to make contact with the police.

Gordon has been a registered sex offender in the UK since 2010, having been convicted in Florida of a rape he committed aged 14.

He served some 20 years in prison in the United States before being deported to Britain.