Warlingham well body-find leads to seven arrests

The body was found in the property's well on Friday afternoon

Seven people have been arrested after a body was found in a well by gardeners at a south London property.

Police were called to the private property on Audley Drive, Warlingham, on the Surrey-border, at about 13:50 GMT on Friday.

The body remains in the well and marine diving teams will attempt to retrieve it in tact to preserve forensic evidence.

Police said the size of the body suggested it was a white adult.

Missing persons

The Met Police said the body, whose gender cannot currently be determined, as the gardeners were doing clearing work at the large house, which stands in an acre of grounds.

Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons said: "It is a murder investigation. As far as I am concerned, when a body is found in a well, it either fell in there, or was placed in there, and the evidence is apparent that the body was placed in there.

"The body presents a number of logistical challenges. The well is two feet in diameter, it is seven feet deep to the water line, and the water is approximately four feet deep.

"The process of recovery is likely to take some time."

He added anyone with information or who has concerns about a missing person should contact the police.

A local resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It is really shocking. You do not expect it here. It is a really quiet well-to-do-area."