THE ex-boyfriend of a murdered Red Cross worker has been found dead near a railway line, police said today.

Detectives launched a manhunt for 35-year-old Martin Collett, who had a home in Southampton, after the body of Angela Hoyt, 34, was discovered at her home in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, last Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Police said: “The body of a man was found just north of Hatfield train station at about 11.30pm on Friday.

“Hertfordshire officers were informed by the British Transport Police (BTP) later that night and have been working with the BTP to identify the man.

“We can now confirm that it is that of Martin Collett, who was wanted for the murder of Angela Hoyt.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ross from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Now we have found Martin, this brings our search to a conclusion and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with Angela's death.”

Police had questioned people living in Squirrel Drive, off Portsmouth Road, Sholing, where Mr Collett owned a property he rented out to tenants.

Residents there were shocked to find themselves at the centre of a national manhunt for the prime suspect in a murder inquiry.

Police said both Miss Hoyt and Mr Collett’s deaths would now be handed to Hertfordshire Coroner Service to investigate.

Earlier it emerged that the former couple had worked for the Home Office.

Mr Collett worked as a briefing manager for Labour home secretaries David Blunkett and Charles Clarke at around the same time that Ms Hoyt was employed as a junior member of the Home Office media team.

Days before her death, Ms Hoyt made a report of harassment to Hertfordshire Police. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the force's response to the complaint.

In a statement released by police, Ms Hoyt's family described her as a ''very ambitious and driven girl''.

Ms Hoyt, who was born in Canada and moved to the UK in 1999, had recently returned from a three-month role in Pakistan as part of her work with the Red Cross.

Officers have not yet released any further details about how she died.