The body of a woman has been found in south-west London garage by police investigating the case of missing businesswoman Carole Waugh.

The Metropolitan Police said the body was found in Lime Court in New Malden at 7pm last night, four months after the 50-year-old Miss Waugh, of Harrowby Street, Marylebone, went missing.

In total 10 people have been arrested in connection with Miss Waugh’s disappearance, including Rakesh Bhayani, 40, of Chamberlayne Avenue, Wembley, who was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation last month.

The charges relate to transactions associated with Ms Waugh's identity worth approximately £280,000.

A number of personal possessions, including Cartier jewellery, have gone missing from Miss Waugh's flat in central London and “significant plundering of her estate has taken place”, police said.

Police also began a murder inquiry on Wednesday and a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was detained at Luton airport on Tuesday on suspicion of kidnap and conspiracy to defraud, but subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.