A MURDER inquiry is under way today after the discovery of a woman's body in a Hampshire takeaway.

As reported in late editions of the Daily Echo yesterday, police broke into the South-ampton premises at around 1pm yesterday after receiving information about a missing person.

They found the body of an Asian woman in her 40s at the Shalimar Tandoori in St Mary Street, St Mary's.

It is understood the woman worked at the premises. Police, who had to break into the property, declined to say how she was killed.

Yesterday afternoon police carried out a painstaking examination of the scene, which included taking bags from several skips at the back of nearby Kingsland Market. These were taken away to help piece together the woman's final moments.

At about 5.30pm last night, the body was removed from the restaurant ready for a post-mortem to be carried out by Home Office pathologist Alan Anscombe.

Detective Superintendent Dave Haverly said: "It's an absolute tragedy for all the families involved. I'm hoping we can resolve this matter as quickly as possible."

One local resident who asked not to be named said: "It's a real shock for the area. There is always something going on. But murder, that is something else."

Last night the takeaway, which has not opened since Wednes-day lunchtime, re-mained sealed off.

Meanwhile, officers in the neighbourhood conducted door-to-door inquiries as they search for the woman's killer.

The Shalimar hit the headlines in the Daily Echo last June after becoming the first Indian restaurant in the city to take orders through the Internet.

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