An 86-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after female human remains were found in a septic tank, West Mercia Police said.

The force launched an investigation into the death after the discovery was made in the village of Kempsey, Worcestershire on July 12.

Police said the suspect remains in custody and is helping officers with their inquiries.

Detectives investigating the discovery of human remains in a septic tank have said they believe they belong to a farmer’s wife who disappeared in 1982.

Brenda Venables, 48, was reported missing from her home in Bestmans Lane, Kempsey by her husband.

West Mercia Police launched a murder investigation after the grim find in a septic tank at the address in the Worcestershire village on July 12.

In an update on Tuesday, the force said detectives are still awaiting DNA results but “the general circumstances lead us to believe” that the remains are likely to be those of Brenda Venables.

West Mercia Police officers were searching the current bungalow address of David Venables, the woman’s husband, on Tuesday.

Three marked cars including a police van and two unmarked cars were outside the detached property in a cul-de-sac in Kempsey, where a red estate car could be seen parked on the driveway.

Officers wearing gloves could also be seen inside the property.

The force would not be drawn on activity at the scene other than to say it was “a line of investigation”.