The body of a woman found in a lake at Bluewater is feared to be a missing mum.

Police have confirmed that Friday's tragic discovery in Greenhithe has been linked to the search for Taiwo Balogun.

The 53-year-old, from Crayford, had been missing for almost a month when emergency services descended on the shopping centre.

Four ambulance vehicles were at the scene on Friday, with three parked at the bus station and another behind a closed-off section of road that lead to one of the lakes around the centre.

A number of police vehicles were also spotted at the scene, alongside a single fire engine, after being called at around 4.40pm.

The following day, a police spokesman confirmed that the force had called following "a possible sighting of a body in a lake at Bluewater".

"Officers attended and the body of a woman in her 50s was located," he said.

"She was declared deceased at the scene and her next of kin have been informed."

Yesterday, a statement from the Metropolitan Police service said that officers had linked the body with the search for Taiwo.

A spokesperson said "A woman's body was recovered from a lake near Bluewater Shopping Centre on Fri 30 Dec.

"While formal identification awaits, Taiwo Balogun's family has been informed.

"Her death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. Our thoughts are with Taiwo's family."

Officers investigating Taiwo's disappearance had been able to confirm she was in a shop in Crayford Road, Dartford – around 10 minutes' drive away from Bluewater – at around 2.27pm on December 1.

On December 28, two days before the tragic discovery at the shopping centre, CCTV of the mum was released in the hope of jogging the memories of those in the area at the time.

Speaking during the appeal, her family described Taiwo as "greatly loved and a massive part of our lives."