THE parents of missing teenager Rosemary Edwards have been informed after a body was found in the New Forest, police said.

Two walkers discovered the body of a young woman or girl near Bartley, Hampshire, yesterday afternoon.

Hampshire Police said the parents of 15-year-old Rosemary Edwards, who has been missing since September 4, have been informed of the discovery but stressed the body had not been identified.

Police say early indications are the death is not suspicious and said no identification will be released until the next of kin have been informed.

The schoolgirl has not been seen since she left her family home in Wellington Close, Dibden Purlieu, Hampshire.

The BBC reports the find comes just days after Southampton-based CCTV company Tecton, where Rosemary's father David works as a consultant, offered a £100,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

Chris Hall, managing director of Tecton, said: "We are desperate to do anything we can to help David and his family find Rosemary."

There have been more than 50 sightings in several parts of the country of a girl matching her description.

Her parents and teacher have appealed for her to contact them and a photograph and description of her have been printed on the reverse of envelopes used for global mailshots.

Rosemary is 15 but it is said she could pass for 18. She is described as white, 5ft 9in (1.75m) tall with a slim build.