���˿���

Police searching the home of a missing MI6 worker in central London have found a man's body in a bag.

The discovery was made at a top-floor flat at 36 Alderney Street, Pimlico, on Monday afternoon.

Officers went to the address following reports that the occupant had not been seen for some time. It is thought the body could have been in the sports holdall for two weeks.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out later.

Officers discovered a mobile phone and several mobile phone SIM cards laid out when they broke into the flat.

The alarm was raised by colleagues who contacted the authorities on Monday because they had not seen him for "some time".

Rob Mills, 35, who lives two doors away, said the discovery was "shocking".

"I'm told the man lived at the top-floor flat but we haven't ever seen him," Mr Mills said.

"It's not like you'd tell your neighbours if you were a spy."

Jason Hollands, 41, a City worker, who also lives nearby, said: "It's truly gruesome - this is a very mixed area of bankers and politicians.

"I've spoken to the next-door neighbour, who knew nothing."

Another neighbour said she had been told by police the killing could have taken place two weeks ago.

Police have not yet been able to to identify the body but said the murdered man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was white and aged in his 30s.

The headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) is just a few hundred yards from the flat in Vauxhall Cross.