A NEIGHBOUR of Jean Lea, whose body was discovered in the River Stour this week, say they hope she’s “finally at peace.”

Ms Lea, 67, disappeared ten months ago from her home in Meadow View Road, Bearwood.

Officers confirmed on Thursday they had recovered a body, believed to be Ms Lea, in the river at Tuckton earlier this week.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Yesterday, friend and neighbour Janet Riley, told the Echo: “We miss Jean very much and after ten months of looking every day, this is such a sad ending. We send our condolences to all of her family.

“I didn’t see Jean every day but we used to have our chats, she used to pop over for a cup of tea.

“She worked so hard at Matalan until her retirement, she was so well known there. People still stop me in the streets asking what the latest is, have I heard anything?

“I thought they were supposed to search the river. How did she get there?”

Now neighbours are hoping an inquest could shed some further light on what happened.

Janet recalled: “She worked so hard, we used to have a good little chinwag. All the years you live near one another, you become friends - it is so sad.

“She seemed perfectly fine a week before she disappeared, we were talking at Tesco’s in Ferndown. we were chatting away for ages.

“Then I said, ‘I’ve got to run, I better not stop. I’ll give you a ring’, but I never did. I really wished I had of now.

“She didn’t show any signs to me she was unhappy at all.

“I hope wherever she is she’s at peace.”

After Ms Lea first disappeared, last year, police carried out an extensive search of areas around her home, where she was known to walk her dog.

The River Stour passes around a mile north of her bungalow, but the body was discovered miles downstream. At the time of the initial search operation, Inspector Andy Allkins, said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Jean as we believe she has been confused recently.”

Residents took to social media to share news of her disappearance and neighbours, including Janet handed out posters around the local area.

n Dorset Police are continuing in their search for missing Blandford man Andrew Latcham.

Andrew, aged 70, was last seen on CCTV leaving supported accommodation on Park Road, Blandford, on December 30.

Inspector Danny Thompson said: “Our plea still stands for any information in relation to Andrew’s whereabouts since he was last seen and we would like to thank all those who have shared our appeals so far.

Anyone with information or knowledge as to Andrew’s whereabouts is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting 55170200756.