EastEnders' Sian Blake and her children confirmed dead Published duration 7 January 2016

image copyright Met Police image caption Sian Blake played Frankie Pierre in the BBC One soap between 1996 and 1997

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 sons 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 all 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, has left the UK and travelled to Ghana.

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

The case is now being treated as a triple murder inquiry.

image copyright Met Police image caption Zachary (left), aged eight, and Amon, aged four, went missing with their mother last month

image copyright Family picture image caption Ms Blake and her sons were last seen in December

A missing persons investigation was 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 later called in to search the family home and the bodies were found during excavations in the garden on Tuesday.

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

image copyright Met Police image caption Arthur Simpson-Kent, pictured with son Amon, was last seen on 16 December

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.

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