THE aunt of a woman found dead after going missing for six weeks today issued an emotional appeal for information about her final hours and said: "We can't rest until we know how she died."

Liz Chadwick said the whole family had been devastated to hear how mum-of-one Jane Payne had been found and said news of her death had come as a shock and a relief'.

Jane's three-year-old daughter Chelsea has been told her mother is dead.

The prostitute's body was found in a field in the Thursden Valley at the weekend.

She had been missing from her home in Queen Victoria Road, Duke Bar, since the end of March.

Police have ruled out murder, but they have not eliminated the possibility of foul play.

Today Mrs Chadwick said: "Jane's death has come as a relief and a shock.

"We knew in our hearts that something had happened to her because otherwise she would have come home, but we were not expecting this.

"I would appeal to anyone who knows what happened and has a heart or a conscience to help us find out how and why Jane got to where she was.

"No matter what sort of lifestyle she led, she was still flesh and blood and I want the person or people who know what happened to run that through their minds.

"Jane was someone's daughter, sister, niece and, most importantly, mother and we have all been devastated by her death.

"Until we know why, how and what she died for we will never be able to rest."

Detectives are probing two lines of enquiry that Jane died elsewhere and her body was dumped, or that she was taken to the area, possibly by a punter, and she died later.

Police said it was possible she had taken a drugs overdose and been moved by somebody who panicked.

Officers also believe she could have become separated from a client who had taken her to the remote spot for sex and that she died after wandering off from a lay-by.

A post mortem examination has proved inconclusive and police are awaiting results of toxicology tests, although there were no signs of violence on the body.

The gruesome discovery was made by farmer Richard Westall and a relative, Aaron Bankroft, at 6.20pm on Saturday in Boulsworth Farm, Briercliffe.

Det Insp Dave Hickey said: "We are still keen to talk to anyone who may have information so we can establish whether there was any third party involvement in the death."

The 29-year-old widowed mum-of-one, who was also known as Jane Kelly, had been missing since March 31.

She left her home in Queen Victoria Road, Burnley, at 11pm that evening, and had not been in touch with her family, including her three year-old daughter Chelsea.

Police said Jane, who has connections to Burnley and Nelson, would work as a street vice-girl when she was short of cash and was last seen walking towards Duke Bar.

Last week police divers scoured the canal.

Two 38-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder last month. One was released on bail, from which he is expected to be released, and the other without charge.

Anyone with information should call police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.