Tia Sharp
A body has been found in the search for Tia Sharp (Handout) Handout

Police searching for missing 12-year-old Tia Sharp have found a body in her grandmother's home.

An area around the home of Christine Sharp, 46 , in New Addington, was cordoned off by around 20 police officers before the discovery was made.

Officers have confirmed that a murder inquiry is underway, although the body has yet to be formally identified, with a post mortem to be carried out.

The police have revealed that they are looking for Christine's partner, Stuart Hazell, 37, in connection with the case, but stress that the public should not approach him and should immediatley call 999.

Disappearance

It was recently revealed that police officers who had worked on the fake kidnapping of Shannon Matthews in 2008 had been brought onto the case.

Tia went missing from Christine's home on August 3 and was thought to be heading to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon.

Calls for calm were made after locals raided a garage in the area in an attempt to find the missing girl. Councillor Simon Hall warned worried residents not to disrupt police investigations.

Anyone with information on the case can contact the police incident room on 0208 721 4005.