THE mystery surrounding the identity of a woman whose body was found in a Hampshire river deepened today.

Southampton and Western Hampshire Coroner's office said they are using DNA records to identify the woman whose body was recovered in the River Test near Romsey last week.

Specially trained water recovery officers from the Force Support Unit attended the scene near Lee Park Farm after a worker on the nearby Broadlands Estate spotted the woman on Saturday morning.

Officers believe her clothing and description matches that of a 54-year-old woman who went missing on October 21 when her wheelchair was found near the banks of the river.

Coroner's officer Phil Harris said the task of identifying the women was “complicated”.

He said: “We're looking at the possibility of using DNA to identify her. There are other routes we are trying too.”

The discovery of the woman's wheelchair by the river sparked a major search and rescue operation after workmen reported seeing the woman near the water's edge near the Cromwell Arms at Mainstone.

Emergency services descended on the bridge at Middlebridge Street and the road was cordoned off as more than 50 people, including staff from the Broadlands Estate, helped with the search.

Police divers and helicopters were drafted into to carry out a search of the River Test between Romsey and Southampton Water.

A team of more than 32 from Hampshire police searched the river, including members of the Marine Unit, the Force Support Unit, the Specialist Search Unit, the Air Support Unit and Hampshire Search and Rescue.

Solent Coastguard was also called out, searching the River Test and Southampton Water in boats.

The search of the river was called off the following day but days later her body was found.

A concerned friend who visited the scene said that the woman was paralysed from the waist down due to multiple sclerosis.