DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of two missing prostitutes are today investigating the discovery of a woman's body.Police were called to land behind Hintlesham Fisheries, formerly Hintlesham Aquatics, just before 11.

DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of two missing prostitutes are today investigating the discovery of a woman's body.

Police were called to land behind Hintlesham Fisheries, formerly Hintlesham Aquatics, just before 11.55am after a countryman discovered the body of a woman in water shrouded by leaves.

Land behind Fen Farm, on the A1071 was sealed off and the police helicopter flew over the area to carry out detailed mapping and search for clues into the death.

Police said the macabre find is currently being treated as unexplained and scenes of crime officers were due to arrive on the land later this afternoon to gather evidence.

Officers have been trying to find missing Ipswich prostitutes Tania Nicol and Gemma Adams since they vanished a month ago and just over two weeks ago respectively.

Police have conducted extensive inquiries into the disappearance of both women but are yet to formally link the cases.

A 32-year-old Needham Market man was arrested on November 16 - the day after Miss Adams vanished - on suspicion of the attempted abduction of another prostitute from Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, but police stressed at the time they were not linking the alleged incident.

It is not known if the families of the women have yet been notified of today's discovery. However, at present, it is not known if the body discovered is definitely connected with the missing women, but police are believed to be looking into the possibility that the body could be that of one of the two prostitutes.

Detective Sergeant Paul Crick, speaking at the scene, said the body had been found in a dyke in Belstead Brook, near Burstall bridge.

He said it was face down and it was not clear if the woman was clothed or unclothed.

Det Sgt Crick said it was unclear how long the body had been there.

He said: “A body has been found face down in the dyke about 300 yards up the road. The guy who owns the land is almost 100 per cent certain that you wouldn't be able to get to the area by car from here because it is muddy as they have been digging new fishing lakes down there.

“There is nothing to suggest that this is where the person was put in the water, bearing in mind the water (rain) we have had recently she could have been dumped half a mile away.”

Det Sgt Crick said the body was found by a man who looks after the area and visits at least once a week to ensure there are no obstructions in the dyke.

He said the body could not be moved until scenes of crime officers have attended and said one officer was with the body preserving the scene.

Detective Inspector Darrin Tomkins, who is working on the case of missing Ipswich prostitute Tania Nicol, was in the force helicopter assisting with the mapping of the scene.

Det Sgt Crick added: “The DI is up there deciding how much of the scene we should keep.

“The most important thing at the moment is for scenes of crime and forensics to arrive and for us to retrieve the body.

“Of course it is possible we may have two bodies there and we have to do full mapping of the area.”

Anyone with information about either Miss Nicol or Miss Adams should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.