The grieving mother of murdered schoolgirl Tia Sharp was overcome with emotion as she visited the site where scores of people have left tributes to her daughter.

The 12-year-old's body was discovered at her grandmother Christine Sharp's terraced house more than a week after she was reported missing.

Her mother Natalie Sharp wept as she surveyed the sea of flowers and cards on the pavement close to the property, hours after the grandmother's partner Stuart Hazell, 37, was charged with murder.

A note believed to have been left by Ms Sharp read: "Our baby girl, we love you very much and always will.


shrine for tia

Tia Sharp's grandmother has been arrested on suspicion of murder

"Sorry baby that this has happened, I wish I was there to protect you.

"We know you are safe now and you are at home with us everywhere we go. Love you, mum, dad, Jack and Harry. XXX".

Hazell will appear in court on Monday accused of killing the schoolgirl.

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  • Missing girl

    RETRANSMISSION IMPROVING ASPECT RATIO.BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.Undated Metropolitan Police handout photo of Tia Sharp.

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves in a police vehicle accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police forensic units approach the sealed off home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police dogs leave after searching the house of the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother, where a candle burns in the garden on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police from Durham constabulary, drafted in from Olympic duties, search garages around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: David Sharp makes a statement to the press concerning missng Tia Sharp, his niece, outside her grandmother's home on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: David Sharp makes a statement to the press concerning missng Tia Sharp, his niece, outside her grandmother's home on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police search refuse bins around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, in the in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police search refuse bins around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, in the in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Missing girl

    Forensic police officers leave the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing school girl Tia Sharp in New Addington near Croydon today.

  • Missing girl

    Forensic police officers leave the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing school girl Tia Sharp in New Addington near Croydon today.

  • Missing Girl

    DCI Nick Scola speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon, as police continue to investigate the disappearance of Tia Sharp.

  • Missing Girl

    David Sharp, the uncle of missing Tia Sharp, speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon.

  • Missing girl

    David Sharp, the uncle of missing Tia Sharp, speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon.

  • Missing girl

    A police officers takes a break from searching through rubbish bins near Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Police officers search through rubbish bins near Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Police officers search through rubbish bins outside Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for the missing schoolgirl, five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for the missing schoolgirl, five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, is mobbed by the media, as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, follows a detective as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, is mobbed by the media, as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    A general view of the home Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, in New Addington, London, as police and worried community members are continuing to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Messages are left at a bus stop near the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of Tia Sharp, who went missing last Friday, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of 12-year-old Tia Sharp, who was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington, south east London, at around midday on Friday.

  • Missing girl

    BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of 12-year-old Tia Sharp, who was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington, south east London, at around midday on Friday.


Scotland Yard said: "Although officers await formal identification of a body found at The Lindens on Friday 10 August, the victim is named in the murder charge as 12-year-old Tia Sharp."

A post-mortem examination on the body was paused last night and is expected to recommence this week. It is still unclear how the youngster died.

Around 100 police officers were involved in the search for the girl along with countless members of the local community.

Despite visiting the property in New Addington, south London, on several occasions, investigators only discovered Tia's body on Friday evening.

stuart hazell

Hazell has been charged with murder after the disappearance of Tia Sharp


Police have not revealed where it was hidden but officers were seen taking a ladder into the house, sparking suggestions Tia's remains may have been concealed in the loft.

Officers have since apologised to her mother for the delay in locating her body.

Today Ms Sharp, 30, held her face in her hands as she arrived at the shrine supported by her partner David Niles.

The pair left a white orchid and soft toy at the site, along with the note.

Hazell, who was previously interviewed as a potential witness, became the subject of a manhunt following the grim find.

He was arrested hours later in the south London borough of Merton after he was apparently spotted by a schoolgirl who had seen him buying alcohol in an off-licence.

Tia's 46-year-old grandmother was also arrested on suspicion of murder but later released on bail.

Her next-door neighbour Paul Meehan, 39, was detained by detectives on suspicion of assisting an offender. He was also later bailed pending further inquiries.

Metropolitan Police South East London Area Commander Neil Basu said "human error" was to blame for the protracted search and conceded mistakes were made during the second examination of the property.

tia sharpe missing

Tributes left to Tia Sharp


The dead girl was only found after police took a body recovery dog to the scene.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr Basu apologised to Ms Sharp, who lives in an apartment block in Mitcham, south London.

Neighbours have spoken of their anger after spending days searching for the girl.

Dale Robertson, 44, said: "There's a mixture of anger and heartbreak. People feel aggrieved. They were duped. Even people who couldn't get out on the searches have posted up on Facebook that they are angry and they were duped."

Flowers, teddy bears and candles remained near the house where the body was found after neighbours and friends left tributes to Tia.

Hazell will appear via video link at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court, south London.

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  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: David Sharp (C), the uncle of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, attends a press conference in New Scotland yard to appeal for her safe return with his friends Mark Havers (L) and Steven Subine (R) on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: David Sharp (C), the uncle of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, attends a press conference in New Scotland yard to appeal for her safe return on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola holds up a CCTV image of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp in a press conference in New Scotland Yard where David Sharp, Tia Sharp's uncle, appealed for her safe return on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: David Sharp (R), the uncle of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, and Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola attend a press conference in New Scotland yard to appeal for her safe return on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: David Sharp (R), the uncle of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, attends a press conference in New Scotland yard to appeal for her safe return on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: David Sharp, the uncle of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, attends a press conference in New Scotland yard to appeal for her safe return on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

  • A Press Conference Is Held Into The Disappearnce Of 12 Year Old Tia Sharp

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: David Sharp (R), the uncle of missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, attends a press conference in New Scotland yard to appeal for her safe return on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Tia Sharp, aged 12, has been missing since leaving her grandmother's house in New Addington on Friday afternoon and was last sighted heading to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)