Sian Blake murder: Three bodies found in hunt for former EastEnders actress and her two children

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ms Blake's partner to come forward

Three bodies have been found by police searching for the missing former EastEnders actress Sian Blake and her two children, police have confirmed.

The bodies have not been formally identified but were found at the family home in Erith in the London borough of Bexley, with police now treating the case as a murder inquiry.

Ms Blake, who played Frankie Pierre in EastEnders in the mid-1990s, has not been seen since visiting family in east London with her sons, eight-year-old Zachary and four-year-old Amon, three weeks ago.

She has been missing, along with her children, Zachary, eight and four –year-old Amon

Police have appealed for information concerning the whereabouts of Arthur Simpson-Kent, Ms Blake's partner and the children's father.

Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Arthur Simpson-Kent, father of Sian Blake's two children and her partner

Detective Superintendant Paul Monk said: "Sadly, as part of a thorough forensic search we are carrying out at the family's home in Erith, we recovered three bodies from the garden of the property.

"As yet, we have not formally identified the bodies but this is of course a significant development and Sian's family have been informed.

"We continue to appeal for any information that could help us trace Sian's partner Arthur Simpson-Kent. If anyone has any information about where he is or his movements since 16 December then please get in touch with us."

Neighbours reported that Ms Blake had motor neurone disease and was looking "thin and frail" when last seen.

Forensics teams were spotted entering Ms Blake's address in Erith with spades and forks, and a police tent was erected in the garden.