The 35-year-old is being held in custody at a south London police station after being arrested on Saturday in connection with the disappearance.

Scotland Yard has only said that the body was found in the Walworth area of south-east London.

The search began on Saturday after the baby was reported missing.

She was last seen by staff at Guy's Hospital in the early hours of Friday morning after receiving treatment for a minor skin complaint.

It is understood the mother, who along with her children is Afro-Caribbean, went shopping with the baby and her six-year-old son in nearby Tower Bridge Road sometime on Friday.

The missing baby had been treated at Guy's Hospital

The distraught mother returned to Guy's Hospital on Saturday morning and said the child was missing.

The dead baby has not yet been identified and a post-mortem examination is being carried out.

Earlier, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A call was received from the hospital reporting the baby missing yesterday (Saturday) morning and a full air and land search was carried out. "