Two arrested on suspicion of murder after badly burned body found in Southfields, southwest London

Body was too badly burned to establish gender or age

Murder investigation launched after police find body in back garden of house (PA)

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found in a garden in Southfields, southwest London.

A murder investigation was launched after police found a body in the back garden of a home in Wimbledon Park Road.

The body was too badly burned to establish its gender or age.

Local media reports said the body was found near Southfields tube station, but the Met Police said they had opened an investigation in Wandsworth and Putney.

A 40-year-old man and 34-year-old woman were arrested at the scene, Scotland Yard said.

Both remain in custody in separate south London police stations.

Detective Inspector Richard Leonard, from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "A badly burned body has been found in the rear garden of this residential address. We are doing everything we can to identify the deceased.

"A post-mortem examination will establish how they died. Early indications are that attempts were made to dispose of the body.

"I would like to appeal to those in and around the area to come forward with information. You may well have seen or heard something suspicious in the last few days which could assist our investigators."

Superintendent Peter Gardner, from Wandsworth Police, said: "I fully appreciate the concern that this investigation will cause in the local community.

"Specialist investigators will be carrying out work at the scene whilst local neighbourhood officers will be patrolling in and around the area to help reassure residents and, where possible, respond to their concerns."