A man is being questioned on suspicion of murder after the remains of a Scots police officer were found on a London housing estate.

The 49-year-old was arrested at a property in south London where officer Gordon Semple's body was discovered on Thursday.

Metropolitan Police commander Alison Newcomb said the condition of his remains means it will take some time for the cause of the Inverness-born officer's death to be established.

Ms Newcomb said: "We were called by a member of the public to an address on the Peabody Estate, Southwark Street.

"At that address a man was arrested and human remains were discovered. Due to the condition of those human remains it will take some time for the cause of death to be established and for formal identification to take place.

"At this point I do not wish to speculate on what has happened."

Heather Brown, who lives in the block next to the flat where Mr Semple's remains were found, said she had noticed a "terrible smell" and said scented candles had been placed outside the door.

Mr Semple attended a meeting at the Shard in central London on April 1 and was then caught on CCTV near London Bridge, a short distance from the Peabody Estate.

The long-serving officer, who worked in the antisocial behaviour team at Westminster City Council, failed to return home from work that evening and was reported missing by his partner.

Mr Semple, 59, had worked as a police officer for 30 years.