Police searching for a missing former EastEnders actress and her two children have found three bodies at their south-east London home.

Sian Blake, 43, and her two young sons, aged four and eight, have not been seen since 13 December.

The Met Police said the bodies were found in the garden and a murder investigation was under way.

Ms Blake's partner Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, had alerted police but went missing himself three days later.

Mr Simpson-Kent is the father to the actress's two children Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, who were last seen in Waltham Forest, north-east London.

Ms Blake, who has motor neurone disease, played Frankie Pierre in the soap between 1996 and 1997.

Det Supt Paul Monk said: "As yet, we have not formally identified the bodies but this is a significant development and Sian's family have been informed."

Police had earlier revealed that Ms Blake's car had been found on Calvert Avenue, Bethnal Green, east London on 3 January, although it is not known how it came to be there.

Det Supt Monk said the force was continuing to try and track down Mr Simpson-Kent.

Next-door neighbour Sam Sanni-Alashe said: "I am in shock. 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 would see them most of the time in the summer but I have not seen them for about six weeks," he said.

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

As well as EastEnders, Ms Blake also appeared in the 1998 film Siberia and TV movie May 33rd in 2004 under her stage name Syan Blake, according to her IMDB profile.

Three bodies found in the garden of former actress Sian Blake are those of the former EastEnders star and her two children, police have confirmed.

The remains of Sian Blake, 43, and her children Zachary Bilal Kent-Blake, eight, and Amon Ben George Kent-Blake, four, were found at the family's south-east London home on 6 January.

A police spokesperson said they had died from "head and neck injuries".

Ms Blake's partner is being sought by police over the deaths.

However, the BBC understands Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, left the UK and may be in Ghana.

Ms Blake and the couple's sons had not been seen since 13 December. They were reported missing three days later.

Police said a missing persons' investigation had been launched on 16 December after officers attended the family's home in Erith.

This was undertaken following information from the children's charity, the NSPCC, over concerns about Ms Blake's health, police said.

Forensic specialists were called in to search the family home on 4 January. The bodies were found during excavations in the garden two days later.

Significant attempts had been made to conceal the bodies, police said.

Det Supt Paul Monk, from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said the police were "continuing to appeal for any information about the movements of Arthur Simpson-Kent".

Ava Blake, Ms Blake's sister, has claimed the former EastEnders star had previously said she wanted to leave her boyfriend.

Sian Blake, who had motor neurone disease, played Frankie Pierre in the BBC One soap between 1996 and 1997.

The Met has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission over how the investigation was handled.

I would encourage all of you to come. There will be a procession and speech to the community at 10PM EST. Make an alt if you want, and come join us. The vigil will be held at the Rogue's Guild in Limsa Lominsa.

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