DETECTIVES have revealed that a body found in woodland on the Sandringham estate is that of a young adult female.

Police also said the human remains had been at the site - between Sandringham and Anmer - for a period thought to be between a month and up to four months.

Forensic experts believe it is “highly unlikely” that the death was through natural causes. There is no evidence of accidental injury, damage due to firearms or a bladed weapon.

Yesterday, Det Chief Insp Jes Fry, leading the investigation, refused to rule out a connection between the body and missing Wisbech teenager Alisa Dmitrijeva, 17, who was last seen in King’s Lynn on August 31.

Samples have been taken from the remains, which should provide a DNA profile at some point today. Police are continuing to search around the site.

Officers were last night examining cold cases nationwide for potential links.

Det Chief Insp Fry said: “We are at the very early stages of the investigation and it could be a complex inquiry. The body had been there for some time.

“The circumstances suggest this is a murder case and we are looking at missing persons reports and cold cases both locally and nationwide.”

Last month, police turned to Facebook in a bid to trace Alisa, who was reported missing on September 6. Officers created a Facebook advert targeted at people living in Wisbech, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

The advert was created in English, Latvian and Lithuanian and a �5,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to officers tracing her.

Officers sealed off an area of woodland between Sandringham and Anmer after the body was discovered by a dog walker on New Year’s Day.

The scene is just over a mile from Sandringham House, where the Royal Family spent Christmas, close to the Royal Stud Farm.