Police are appealing for information to trace the next-of-kin of Axminster nurse Lesley Stevens, who drowned off Lyme Regis in April.

Lesley, aged 63, from Membury, was found in the water one mile east of Lyme Regis at 10.30am on Monday, April 19, having left her home at 7am that morning.

Her body was recovered by the lifeboat crew and a Dorset County Coroner has determined the cause of her death to be drowning.

Lesley had lived in the village of Membury, near Axminster, for 18 years. Prior to this, she lived in Seaton having moved to East Devon from Kent.

Lesley worked as a staff nurse within the Community Care Team at Axminster Hospital. She drove a red Citroen C1 which was located parked in Lyme Regis following her body being found.

Lesley is believed to have grown-up in, or lived in the Kent area and may have next-of-kin there. However, their details are unknown.

She is believed to have been married, however her husband died before she moved to Membury.

Lesley's body is currently being retained by Dorset Coroner's Office while her next-of-kin are traced.

Anyone who has any information which could assist police enquiries to locate Lesley's next-of-kin is asked to contact police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting reference, EN/6156/21.