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Detectives searching for missing midwife Samantha Eastwood have found a body.

Formal identification is yet to take place but it is believed to be the 28-year-old who had not been seen for eight days.

The discovery was made at 12noon today (August 4) after an area of land near Caverswall was cordoned off. A post mortem will take place in due course.

A 32-year-old man, who was previously released on conditional bail, has now been re-arrested for murder. The suspect remains in custody this afternoon.

Two other men, aged 28 and 60, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police had been combing a site off Tickhill Lane between Dilhorne and Caverswall for any sign of Samantha throughout today.

Forensic teams are at the scene and will remain there for some time.

Specialist officers are now supporting Samatha’s family at this difficult time.

Detective Superintendent Simon Duffy, from the force’s Major and Organised Crime Department, said: "The discovery today is not what anyone wanted, and this is now a homicide investigation.

"A 32-year-old man who was previously released on conditional bail, has now been re-arrested for murder, and remains in custody.

"Two other men, aged 28 and 60, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender."

He added, “I would like to thank the public for their support, and anyone with any further information is asked to contact us on 101."

Samantha failed to turn up to start a late-shift at the Royal Stoke University Hospital at 7pm last Friday, July 27.

(Image: Facebook)

Just 20 minutes later, NHS staff contacted the police as it was so ‘out of character’ for her to be a no-show.

The last confirmed sighting was of her blue Volvo XC60 driving away from the Royal Stoke at 7.45am.

She made it home to Greenside Avenue, Baddeley Green, before she dropped off the grid.

We will bring you more on this story as we get it.