A BODY found in dense undergrowth is thought to be that of missing Hampshire taxi driver John Martin.

Mr Martin, better known as Noddy, disappeared from his home at Elgin Close, Hythe, almost two months ago.

He was last seen walking along Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu, and appeared to be heading towards the New Forest.

Yesterday a dog walker found a man's body in undergrowth between Beaulieu and Exbury.

Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious. The body has yet to be formally identified but the clothing matches that worn by Mr Martin on the day he went missing.

His wife Corin, 44, said: "This is the worst possible news we wanted to hear.

"Although formal identification procedures have not yet been completed, we are satisfied that it is John's body.

"John was a warm, loving and caring family man and a wonderful husband and father who was much loved by me and his children. He will be sorely missed by us all."

Mr Martin, a director of Streamline Taxis in Southampton, disappeared from his home on February 15 after coming home from work in a bad mood.

His wife told him to stop moaning and went to visit a friend. When she returned 90 minutes later she discovered that her husband had removed his wedding ring and left the house without taking his keys, wallet or mobile phone.

Mrs Martin and her friends began a huge search for the 50-year-old cabbie.

Their nine-year-old daughter Lydia designed a poster with the words "My Daddy Is Missing" and "Please Find Him".

Hundreds of copies of the poster were distributed in the Waterside, Southampton and New Forest areas.

Mrs Martin also travelled to Kent, where her husband grew up, and the Isle of Wight, which they visited shortly before he disappeared.

A week after he vanished she retraced the route her husband took, walking from Elgin Close to the Heath Hotel at the junction of Beaulieu Road and the A326.

Mr Martin has three daughters from his first marriage, one of whom, Lisa, is due to get married in August.

A month after he went missing Lisa, of Thornhill, Southampton, said her marriage plans were on hold until her father was found.