POLICE are today expected to reveal how Hampshire architect Joanna Yeates died.

The results of a post mortem on the body of the 25-year-old are due to be released by police investigating her death later today.

Yesterday police said they are “satisfied” that the woman’s body found on Christmas Day is that of missing Joanna, whose parents live at Ampfield, near Romsey.

They said at this stage they are treating the death as suspicious, but are waiting on the results of the post-mortem examination.

The discovery was made by a couple walking their dogs in the Failand area of North Somerset, three miles from the flat former Embley Park School pupil Joanna shared with her 27-year-old boyfriend Greg Reardon.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesman said: “We are satisfied the body is Joanna Yeates, but this is pending the results of a postmortem which is not expected for at least 24 hours due to the nature of how she was found in such extreme conditions.”

Identification Police said the formal identification procedure is yet to be completed, but they have spoken to Joanna’s family and explained the situation.

Before the latest development Miss Yeates’ father said he “would be relieved” if the body was his daughter so they would have the opportunity to say goodbye.

IT specialist David Yeates, 63, said: “Of course we don’t know for sure that it’s her but we assume that it is.

“Nobody else has been reported missing and it’s the body of a young girl close to where Jo disappeared.

It hasn’t been a Christmas for us. I don't know what it’s been.

It’s been surreal, totally unreal.

We’re just waiting now for the police to tell us what we suspect.

“In truth we feel like we hope .– we would be relieved if it was her.

“We don’t want to go to our graves wondering where she is and not being given the chance to say goodbye to her.

“We assume that she’s dead so we’d like to say goodbye – our lives have gone.”

The body was found on a snowcovered verge of Longwood Lane, close to Bristol and Clifton Golf Club, which has been sealed off for forensic examination.

The Avon Fire Service helped police remove the body from the scene, which was clothed and covered in snow, in order to preserve the site for a thorough forensic examination.

Police are expected to continue their fingertip search in the Longwood Lane area throughout today.

Chief Superintendent Jon Stratford said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to Joanna’s family. We have not stopped working hard throughout the Christmas period to find their daughter after she was reported missing.

“Now we will work just as hard to discover exactly what happened to her and how she came to be in Longwood Lane on Christmas morning.

“Until the post-mortem examination is able to firmly establish how Joanna died, we are keeping an open mind about the cause of her death.

“However, I would appeal to anyone with any information whatsoever that can help this investigation to please come forward and help us provide Joanna’s parents with the answers they so desperately want and need.”