A MAN found hanged in woodland is believed to be the father of an eight-year-old girl who died after falling from a fairground ride almost three years ago.

David Griffin, 42, was last seen in Adisham, near Canterbury, at about 3.45pm on Tuesday. A full-scale search was launched when his van was found abandoned beside woods near Woodlands Manor in the village and a body was discovered on Wednesday.

Mr Griffin and his wife Michelle suffered tragedy in 1999 when their only child, Erin, died from head injuries after falling 20 feet from a roller-coaster at Rotunda amusement park in Folkestone.

An inquest found the girl's death was an accident but raised concerns over safety at the park.

Dreamland Leisure, the firm which operates the park, have been accused of breaching health and safety regulations but the court hearings have been adjourned on a number of occasions. Last week a Crown Court trial date was set for January, 2003.

Mrs Griffin, of The Street, Adisham, has spoken in the past about the frustration felt at the delays.

Army personnel and local residents joined police with dogs searching the woodland for Mr Griffin. At 3pm on Wedneday a police official confirmed they had found a body, believed to be that of a man in his forties.

A formal identification has not yet been carried out but the search has been called off.