A body has been found in a south London park by police investigating the disappearance of a children’s hospital worker, Scotland Yard said last night.

       Petra Srncova, 32, was reported missing on December 3 by a colleague at Evelina London Children's Hospital.

       She is believed to have left the hospital, where she worked as a senior nursing assistant, at 7.45pm on November 28, heading towards her home in Camberwell.

       At around 11.40am on Sunday, police were called by a member of the public who reported they had found the body of a woman in Brunswick Park, Camberwell.

       Scotland Yard said in a statement: “At this early stage, the woman's death is being treated as unexplained.

       “While formal identification awaits, Petra’s family have been informed of this development.”

       The body was said to have been found by children playing in the park.

       Selda Kayam, a 36-year-old mother who lives nearby, told MyLondon she knew the family who made the grim discovery, saying: "When my friend's kids were running around the park, that's when they saw it. It's really shocking.

       "It's quite scary for us, we feel like we're not safe anymore.

       "I'm not really feeling comfortable. I'm not sure if I would take my children back to that park."

       It came after the force said a man arrested in connection with her disappearance earlier this week had been released from custody pending further inquiries.

       Ms Srncova's family in her native Czech Republic are said to be "desperately worried" for her as her disappearance is out of character.

       Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham, hosted a press conference on Saturday at which she urged members of the public to check CCTV and doorbell cameras for any sign of Ms Srncova.

       Ms Harman said: "Petra is missing and we want people to help find her. She's been missing quite a few days and she is only 32.

       "We have a responsibility to help find her. She was away from her country and her family here working in our National Health Service.

       "As each day goes by we get more and more concerned. This is her local community, we've all got a responsibility to find her."

       Detective Superintendent Clair Kelland said on Saturday the Metropolitan Police "continue to grow increasingly worried about Petra" and the force is "doing everything we can to try and find her".