A small Cotswold village community is in shock today as the bodies of a loving mother and her disabled daughter were recovered from a lake near their home.

Celebrity florist Jude Richmond, 41, and Millie Whitehead-Richmond, 9, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had disappeared from their home in South Cerney on Sunday night.

And this morning police confirmed that the tragic mother and daughter had been found less than 50yds (45.7m) from their £550,000 detached lakeside home.

Gloucestershire police are now stepping up the search for a mystery, blonde spikey-haired man seen with his arm around Mrs Richmond's shoulders in an "affectionate yet firm" manner an hour before she disappeared.

Mrs Richmond's ex-partner Neil Whitehead, 54, Millie's father, who travelled from London to the area on Tuesday is said to be "devastated" by news of the discovery.

Her estranged husband Nick Richmond, who currently lives in New Zealand, was informed at 1.30pm after he landed at Heathrow Airport to join the search

Reverend David Bowers, vicar of All Hallows Church, in South Cerney, said the news had sent shockwaves through the close-knit community.

"Both Jude and Millie were lovely people. The whole village are absolutely devastated. We were hoping and praying that they would be ok," he said.

"We have been praying for them since they went missing. This is very sad news for the whole village.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Millie's father.

"Both Millie and Jude sometimes came to church and Millie was baptised here.

"Millie was a very special little girl. She was very lively and full of joy and life. Jude was a very kind person, very caring and sensitive.

"This will affect a lot of people in the village and we will pray for the rest of family."

The identification of their bodies was confirmed by police today and post-mortem examinations will be conducted to find the cause of death.

Kate Nelmes, spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police, revealed today they have now stepped up the search for the "mystery man."

She said: "Police dive teams found the body of a young girl at 10.20am and the body of an adult female shortly after 11.30am.

"The two bodies were found in the water less than 50 yards from Jude Richmond's home. Neil Whitehead and Nick Richmond will both now be informed in person.

"The two bodies have not been formally identified yet but that and post-mortem examinations will probably be carried out by Thursday.

"Finding these bodies makes it even more important that we speak to the mystery man seen before Jude and Millie disappeared.

"It is a moving situation at the moment and we are keeping all lines of enquiry open. We are still searching for this man but not on suspicion of murder until we know more.

"The police divers are still at the lake and will remain there until the bodies are recovered."

Police were alerted to Mrs Richmond's and Millie's disappearance at 10am on Monday by the family cleaner and dog handlers and a helicopter began combing the area.

The pair were last seen leaving their Cotswolds home, which backs onto one of 140 lakes in the area, together between 6pm and 6.30pm on Sunday by a neighbour.

However, on Tuesday police revealed Mrs Richmond and Millie were also spotted leaving the property between 5pm and 5.15pm accompanied by an unknown male.

The man, who may have been the last person to see the pair alive, is described as white, in his early 40s, 6ft tall, with dark-blonde spikey hair and broad shoulders.

A further sighting of the pair was made at 4.30pm on Tuesday at Dobbies Garden World, in nearby Siddington, where police are examining CCTV footage.

Police drafted in a specialist team of divers from neighbouring Avon and Somerset Constabulary this morning to search a lake behind their home.

They began at 9am before finding Millie's body at 10.20am and then that of her mother shortly after 11.30am.

Mrs , who grew up in the Scottish Highlands, is a world-renowned florist whose clients include the Queen Mother and rockers Pink Floyd.

The former graphic designer, who owns five shops in London, created bouquets for Hollywood blockbuster Bridget Jones's Diary and a string of famous operas.

Mrs Richmond settled in the picturesque Cotswold town of South Cerney in 2006 and set up florist Camelia Flowers, named after her grandfather's favourite flower.

She is well-liked in the town and regularly arranges flowers for local events at schools, churches and charities.

But it is thought she became disillusioned after splitting with second husband Nick, who she married in Westminster, London in November 2003.

Mrs Richmond and Millie travelled to visit Nick in New Zealand on January 4 this year but came back earlier than expected on March 12.

It is believed that Mrs Richmond's relationship with stock broker Nick had become strained.

Close friend Pamela Walsh, 70, of South Cerney, believes Jude "really struggled" to care for Millie on her own.

She said: "Whatever her problems I really can't see Jude doing anything to hurt her daughter - she loves her enormously."