Police searching for the missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp have found a body in her grandmother’s south London home.

The Metropolitan Police said the body was found following a search of the property in New Addington, Croydon, earlier.

The 12-year-old has been missing since last Friday.

Police are seeking Stuart Hazell, 37, the partner of Tia’s grandmother Christine Sharp, and have asked people not to approach him.

Members of the public have been asked to call 999 if they see Mr Hazell.

No arrests have been made.

The body is yet to be identified but Tia’s family has been informed.

The BBC’s Ben Ando said police sources said they had yet to determine how long the body had been at the property and that would form part of the inquiry.

Officers had cordoned off the area around the property at about noon to carry out a forensic search and the Met had said the search could take up to two days.

Earlier, officers with a police dog spent about 30 minutes in the house.

Tia’s uncle, grandmother and Mr Hazell had all made emotional appeals to find the schoolgirl.

Mr Hazell was believed to have been the last person to have seen the girl.

She was reported to have gone missing after leaving her grandmother’s house on her way to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon.

Alston Millington, 32, who lives nearby, said: “It is such sad news. I live just around the corner and can’t believe it.”

Following Tia’s disappearance, a Facebook campaign was launched to find her and about 200 people helped police comb a woodland near the house.

It is understood the schoolgirl regularly visited her grandmother’s house and was believed to have been at the property alone with Mr Hazell the night before she disappeared.

Mr Hazell had said that he was not the last person to see the girl leave the house.

He was questioned by police on Wednesday.

bbc