Detectives today launched a murder hunt after the naked and badly beaten body of a young mum was found just yards from a busy Bradford road.

Officers were called to the scene half-way up Thornton Street, off Thornton Road, after a woman passer-by made the grim discovery at around 12.30pm yesterday.

The naked body of Rebecca Victoria Hall, known as Becky to her friends, was found lying on her back between the rear of a small business unit and a stone wall bordering a company car park.

Her four-month-old son Jordan, who lived with her at a flat in Lydford Crrt House, off Elizabeth Street, Little Horton Green, was today being cared for by his grandmother.

Police revealed today Fri, Apr that 19-year-old Becky was last seen leaving her home on Good Friday, around 10pm and was reported missing by friends early the next day.

Detective Chief Superintendent Max McLean, the investigating officer, said: "Becky was a working prostitute who frequented the Thornton Road area of Bradford.

"It is very probable that Becky was heading towards the Thornton Road area when she disappeared and hasn't been seen since.

"Becky's body was naked and a post mortem revealed that she died form severe head injuries and that her body may have been there for up to three days.

"Becky had suffered a sustained, vicious and brutal beating, particularly around the head."

Det Chf Supt McLean said he had not established a motive but there was no signs of a sexual attack.

He said Becky, a former pupil at Fairfax Upper School in West Bowling and one of five sisters, was known as "goofy" by her friends as she had two protruding front teeth.

She was wearing black leggings and a purple sheer see-through top when she disappeared.

He said the top and other items of clothing were found near her body but there was no murder weapon.

She is described as 5ft 5in tall with a slim build with dyed red hair in a bob style.

He appealed for anyone with information to call a special freephone helpline 0800 318001 Crrt.

At around 5pm yesterday, officers removed the body which had laid between the back of Craig Rawse Volvo Service Centre on Crown Street and a car park for the Wrapid factory in Thornton Street.

As the police helicopter hovered overhead, teams of officers sealed off the surrounding streets.

Employees from neighbouring firms and passers-by gathered behind the cordons while forensic experts and detectives examined the scene.

Maqbool Hussain, 29, who works at BMF Auto Parts, just yards from the scene, said: "I was working when all of a sudden there were police officers swarming everywhere. One moment it was quiet and the next, roads were sealed off and forensic experts were all over the place."

Mr Hussain said the spot where the body was found was used as an access to a concealed area of open ground which was used by prostitutes.

"We see them walking through there at all times of the day. People take drugs in that area as well. You often find loads of needles around on the ground - we have found them in the corner of the yard."

Faroqh Mohagh(corr), who owns the business, said: "It is absolutely terrible that this has happened. Obviously it is a great shock that it has happened on our doorstep. I hope they catch whoever did this soon.

"It is so upsetting - this was somebody's daughter."