Bodies found in search for former Eastenders actress

Sian Blake, 43, who played Frankie Pierre in Eastenders in 1996 – 1997, vanished with her sons Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, in east London on December 13.

Three days later, police interviewed her partner – the children’s father Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48 – at the family’s home in Erith, Kent. He later disappeared on December 16.

Forensic teams were seen searching the property today and neighbours said police had been at the house for several days.

Police said the bodies were found in the garden and a murder inquiry is now under way.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Detective Superintendent Paul Monk from the Homicide and Major Crime Command 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.

“This continues to be a fast moving investigation and our thoughts are with Sian’s family at this time.

“I would also like to ask anyone who may have seen Sian and her children, or who may have information about their movements since the last confirmed sighting on 13 December, to call us.”

Murder squad detectives are now searching for Ms Blake’s boyfriend.

Dectective Monk added: “Our efforts are continuing to find Arthur Simpson-Kent. Our appeal is to anyone who may know his current whereabouts or can assist us in finding him – we do need to speak to him as a matter of urgency. “

“She was a very happy woman”

Former actress Ms Blake had motor neurone disease – a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord – and was reportedly looking “very frail” before she vanished.

She and her children were last seen in Waltham Forest, east London, on December 13, and her silver-beige Renault Scenic was found in Calvert Avenue in Bethnal Green, east London, on January 3, but it is not known who parked it there.

Yesterday Scotland Yard confirmed that the murder squad had taken over the investigation.

Next-door neighbour Sam Sanni-Alashe was in tears over the news.

He said: “I am in shock, I can’t talk. It is really hurtful. I know the lady. I see the children playing at the back. I say hello all the time. We are not close but she was a very happy woman.

“This is a disaster and it is awful for the community. I can see everything in the garden but these last few days I have chosen not to look.

“When my son finds out, he will be terrified.”

Another neighbour Hannah Cutting, 18, said: “I would see the kids playing at the window, then we were worried when police were there 24/7.

“It’s awful just to think that something can happen on your doorstep and you see people and you have no idea what’s going on.”