HUMAN remains discovered at a UK beauty spot have been identified as a mum-of-three who vanished nearly seven years ago.

Joanne Sheen, 44, vanished from Southampton in December 2019, sparking a major police investigation to locate her.

Cop have arrested a 56-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

It comes after a wildfire exposed bones in West London on August 12.

A spokesperson said: “As part of our investigation, we have today arrested a 56-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. He remains in custody at this time as our enquiries continue.

“As our investigation enters this next stage, we are working closely with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to establish exactly what happened to Joanne.

“Her death is being treated as murder, and we remain committed to identifying and bringing those responsible to justice.”

Detective Chief Inspector Toby Elcock, from the major crime team, said: “This is a significant development in what has been a long and complex investigation and provides us with several new lines of enquiry, which we are exploring with our dedicated team.

“While this tragic discovery is not the outcome Joanne’s family, or any of us, had hoped for, we hope the identification of her remains can at least begin to provide some answers after many years of uncertainty.

“Throughout this investigation, Joanne’s family have shown tremendous strength and dignity in the face of unimaginable circumstances, and our thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time.

“As our investigation progresses, we remain committed to establishing exactly what happened to Joanne and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.

“There may still be people who have information about Joanne’s disappearance, her movements before she went missing, or how she came to be in Feltham.

“The passage of time does not lessen the importance of that information. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, we would urge anyone who may know something to come forward.

“We understand that coming forward may feel difficult, particularly if you are worried about the consequences, but we are asking you to think about the family who are left without their loved one and who are waiting for answers. Please do the right thing. If you know something, now is the time to come forward.

“We are also pleased that Crimestoppers has agreed to reinstate its £20,000 reward offer in support of our investigation. If anyone has information but does not feel comfortable speaking directly to police, I would encourage them to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”