'Mother's body' found in car boot

Farik Farukh disappeared two days after Inga Losiene

A body discovered in the boot of a car in Essex is believed to be that of a missing Lithuania-born mother-of-two, police have said.

Inga Losiene, 32, was last seen near her home in Southend on 27 May.

Her partner, Farik Farukh, 32, an Iraqi Kurd, disappeared two days later after taking her two children to friends.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said it would take some time to formally identify the woman's body but a murder investigation had been launched.

A member of the public had directed police to the car, near Southend East railway station, on Sunday night.

House searched

A body - which is now believed to be Ms Losiene - was discovered in the boot.

Riviera Drive, where the car was found, has been cordoned off and police are to carry out a detailed search of the area.

Officers spent part of the weekend examining the couple's house in York Road and took away items.

Forensic tests have also been carried out on Mr Farukh's Rover car, which was found abandoned on the A14 in Suffolk the day before he disappeared.

They have appealed for anyone with any information about Mr Farukh's whereabouts to contact them.