Investigations were continuing to determine whether the body is that of 48-year-old Diane Chenery-Wickens, who was reported missing earlier this year.

A woman walking her dog discovered the decomposed corpse off Worth Lane, Little Horsted, near Uckfield, East Sussex.

The body, which was clothed and appeared to be a woman, was concealed in undergrowth about 10 yards from the lane.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Diane Chenery-Wickens' family are being kept aware of developments but it has been made clear to them that the body may or may not be her."

Forensic and post-mortem examinations will be carried out to establish formal identification and cause of death.

"This may take some time," the police spokesman said.

Mrs Chenery-Wickens, who worked on shows including Dead Ringers, The League Of Gentlemen and Casualty, was reported missing by her husband, David, 51, on January 24 after she failed to attend a meeting at the BBC.

Mr Chenery-Wickens, from Duddleswell, near Uckfield, was later arrested on suspicion of her murder and freed on police bail. He had his bail extended last month until May 30 pending further police investigations.

Specialist search teams have examined sites based on "specific information" in the 6,500-acre Ashdown Forest on the Kent/East Sussex border. Searches have also taken place at the couple's country home in Duddleswell and surrounding woodland.