Further questions over woods body

Medical records were used to establish Victoria Couchman's identity

Detectives investigating the murder of a 19-year-old woman whose remains were found in woods have been given more time to question her father.

Parts of a skeleton were uncovered by a forensic team after children playing in Redgeland Wood, Hastings, found a human skull on 13 October.

Medical records were used to establish the remains belonged to teenager Victoria Couchman.

Detectives believe the unburied body had been there less than 18 months.

Police said a 45-year-old Hastings man had been arrested on suspicion of murder. The man is understood to be Miss Couchman's father.

Questioning extended

On Sunday, detectives were granted a further 36 hours to question him at Eastbourne police station and this finishes just before 2330 BST.

A search of Redgeland Wood, in the Queensway area of the town, also continued on Sunday.

Details of a cause of death have not been disclosed by Sussex Police.

The skeleton was uncovered after children found a skull while playing

Inspector Becky Newman said: "Police investigating the discovery of human remains found in Redgeland Wood believe they have established the identity of the victim.

"From medical records, it is believed she was Victoria Couchman, 19 years of age, from an address in the local area."

It was originally thought the remains had been in the woods for up to 10 years but following further discoveries - of an upper left leg, pelvic bone and tibia - police said they think they had been there for about 18 months.

The skeleton's upper left leg had suffered a full break and had been pinned.

Inspector Heather Keating said: "This is a tragedy for the family and we will be working with them and the wider community to establish what happened to Victoria."

Neighbours said Miss Couchman was a single mother who lived with her father in St Leonards.

Sussex Police have confirmed they are not investigating the whereabouts of her daughter.

Miss Couchman was a member of a social networking site where she described herself as a lover of comedy and romance films and urged others to "live life like it's your last day".