THE body of a young woman found hanged at an isolated rural area has been confirmed by police as that of missing teenager Rosemary Edwards.

Walkers discovered the 15-year-old at Bartley in the New Forest, Hampshire. She was last seen by her family at their home in Dibden Purlieu, Hampshire on September 4.

Horse lover Rosemary had left home with no belongings following an argument with her parents about how she lost her part-time job.

A post mortem examination carried out on Monday night confirmed the identity and found the cause of death to be consistent with that of hanging, a Hampshire Police spokeswoman said.

Rosemary's family said on Monday that they were "completely shell-shocked'' by the news the body had been found.

The spokeswoman said the death was not being treated as suspicious and she said the family had asked for privacy. She added that the family wanted to thank family, friends, the public and police for trying to find their daughter.

On the Facebook website, Rosemary's father David Edwards, 52, said: "I am sorry to tell you that a body has been found that answers Rosemary's description.

"Rosemary touched so many people's lives and it seems impossible to believe that she was so low that she felt life wasn't worth living.'' Mr Edwards, his wife Jennifer, 47, son Robert, 17, and daughter Lucy, 19, made several emotional appeals for Rosemary to come home after she disappeared the day before she was due to go back to start her final year in school.

Mr Edwards went into her room on September 5 to get her up for school but she was not there and she did not take her mobile phone or money when she left.

Robert said on the Facebook website: "Rosemary had a fantastically good 15 years of life and will be missed by all, especially her friends and family. We don't know what could have happened in Rosemary's life to lead her to the circumstances that have occurred. But I know that deep down she knew that so many people loved her and cared for her.

"I'd like to say thank you to everyone that has joined the group and everyone who has sent us messages and cards of support."