A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after human remains were found in the search for missing police officer Gordon Semple.

The discovery was made on an estate in Southwark a few hundred yards from where he was last seen six days ago, a few hours after visiting the Shard's Shangri-La hotel for a meeting.

A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene.

Forensics teams continue to scour the flat on the Peabody Estate, off Southwark Street, where the discovery was made on Thursday afternoon.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We are unable to make formal identification at this stage, but this is devastating news for all those involved in the search for Gordon.

"His family are being supported by specially trained officers and his colleagues have been briefed."

A housing block on the estate was sealed off amid a large police presence after officers were called at about 1pm.

The estate is close to where PC Semple was filmed by CCTV cameras in Great Guildford Street at about 3pm on Friday, in the last known sighting.

He had left the meeting at the Shard at about 12.30pm, police said.

The Metropolitan Police officer was reported missing by his partner after failing to return home from work on Friday.

The Met''s murder squad took over the hunt to find him on Thursday.

Police divers started trawling the River Thames on Friday as more police units became involved in the search for the anti-social behaviour officer, 59.

A spokesman for the Met added: "Officers attended the address where human remains were discovered.

"Our work at that scene is crucial to ensure we capture all available evidence and this may take some time.

"At this stage we will not speculate any further on what may have happened or possible motive.

"A post-mortem will be held in due course, and until that has taken place we will not speculate on the cause of death."