Bones discovered by police on waste ground have been identified as belonging to Ann Sheila Joyce, who went missing from London more than a year ago.

The bones, including the skull and fragments of clothing, were uncovered near a British Telecom engineering centre in Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards, on Wednesday.

A post mortem on Friday, using dental records and a dental expert, revealed the remains were those of Miss Joyce, 37, of Oaklands Road, North London.

She disappeared from her home on July 31, 1999, and had not been seen since. Police said although the cause of her death could not be ascertained, they did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances.

The East Sussex Coroner is expected to hold an inquest.