POLICE officers searching for a woman who has been missing for more than a year have discovered a body at a Bolton house.

Officers investigating the disappearance of Victoria Cherry, 44, from Fulwood in Preston searched an address in Toronto Street, Breightmet yesterday.

After the search, a 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers have now found a body at the address in Toronto Street.

'She was always there for me' - Tributes to Victoria Cherry, who has been found dead in Bolton

While formal identification has yet to take place, police believe it is the body of Victoria Cherry.

Ms Cherry, who is believed to be a former hairdresser and has a daughter, is originally from Preston and was last seen in December, 2014. Her family reported her missing in October, 2015.

In November last year, Lancashire Police issued a missing person appeal for Ms Cherry. The appeal said: “She was last seen by family members almost two years ago in December, 2014, which is not unusual as she lives quite a chaotic lifestyle.

It is not yet clear where in the house the body was found or how she may have been killed.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I last saw her about 12 months ago. She was a nice girl.”

Neighbours said they believed Ms Cherry had left her partner and had gone back to her mother’s in Preston.

Police put up sheeting and cordoned off a stretch of Back Bury Street next to the block and called in the canine unit to search the property.

Officers conducted door-to-door inquiries in Toronto Street and in houses in Bury Road that overlooked the flat and its back lawn.

Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton of GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “We are continuing to support Victoria’s family as they deal with this devastating news.

​“The arrested man remains in custody but I’m urging anyone with any information that would help our enquiries to get in touch.

“If you have information about Victoria’s whereabouts since her disappearance in 2015 or if you hold any information about the events leading up to our discovery, please contact us as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4711 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.