Missing 12 year old girl

Police searching for the missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp have found a body in her grandmother's house.

Officers say they are trying to find Stuart Hazell, her grandmother's boyfriend, and have warned the public not to approach him.

Ronke Phillips has been following developments at the house in New Addington.

A murder enquiry has been launched after a body was found at 20 The Lindens, New Addington, following a search of the property this afternoon. Enquiries are also underway to establish the identity of the body.

A post mortem will be held in due course.

We are seeking to find Stuart Hazell to be interviewed in connection with this case. He should not be approached and if seen people should call 999 immediately.

There have been no arrests in connection with this investigation at this time.

The family of Tia Sharp has been informed of the discovery.

Police hunting for missing 12-year-old Tia Sharp have found a body at her grandmother's house, Scotland Yard said.

Police hunting for missing 12-year-old Tia Sharp have sealed off an area around her grandmother's home, where she was last seen a week ago.

More than 20 officers arrived at The Lindens on the New Addington estate, near Croydon, south London, and placed a cordon around the property where Christine Sharp, 46, lives.

Detectives at the scene declined to explain what the cordon was about.

But Scotland Yard said the area was sealed off as part of pre-planned search and that a media briefing that had been arranged with Area Commander Neil Basu had been postponed.

Mrs Sharp, wearing a campaign T-shirt, was escorted from the house by an officer and driven away.

She made no comment.

Two police dog handlers arrived with a black German Shepherd this morning and entered the property on The Lindens.

Another dog was taken into the house on Tuesday.

Two female detectives arrived at the house this morning but left 30 minutes later with brown evidence bags.

One officer said they were the "last" bits of evidence to be removed from the property.