POLICE are today expected to named a woman whose body was found in a Hampshire river.

They believe the body is that of a disabled woman who was last seen by the water’s edge.

Specially trained water recovery officers were called into action after a woman’s body was spotted in the River Test, near Romsey.

Last night police had not formally identified the body but they believe the description and clothing match that of the 54-year-old who went missing 12 days before, leaving her electric wheelchair near the river bank.

The identity of the woman is expected to be confirmed today.

The body was spotted near Lee Park Farm on Saturday morning, nearly two miles from the spot where the 54- year-old was last seen.

A worker on the nearby Broadlands Estate raised the alarm and the Force Support Unit was drafted in to remove the body from the water.

Staff at the Cromwell Arms said family and friends of the woman visited the site where she was last seen a few days before the discovery.

Deputy manager Reshma Ranchhod said: “Our thoughts are with the family.”

As previously reported, the woman’s disappearance on October 21 sparked a major search and rescue operation after workmen reported seeing her near the water’s edge at the Cromwell Arms at Mainstone.

A concerned friend who visited the scene said that the woman was paralysed from the waist down due to multiple sclerosis.

Emergency services descended on the bridge at Middlebridge Street, Romsey, and the road was cordoned off as more than 50 people, including staff from the Broadlands Estate, helped with the search.

Police divers and helicopters were drafted in to carry out a search of the River Test between Romsey and Southampton Water.

A team of more than 32 from Hampshire police searched the river, including members of the Marine Unit, the Force Support Unit, the Specialist Search Unit, the Air Support Unit and Hampshire Search and Rescue.

Solent Coastguard was also called out, searching the River Test and Southampton Water in boats.

But the nothing was found and the search was called off after more than 24 hours.

Police confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

A post-mortem will take place in due course.