FORMAL identification has confirmed the body found in Boston Manor Park on Saturday is that of Arnis Zalkalns, 41, of Ealing.

A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death was hanging. There is no evidence of any third party involved.

The Met today responded to criticism of its search methods by outlining in more detail the extent of the operation to find missing Hanwell schoolgirl Alice Gross and subsequently Zalkalns, the prime suspect in her murder.

Alice was reported missing on August 28 and the Met searched 25 square kilometres of canals, rivers and land for her.

Her body was found in the river after efforts had clearly been made to conceal it.

An inquest into her death will be opened and adjourned at West London Coroner's Court on Friday.

The weekend before last, this was expanded again to include open space searches using regular officers and the mounted branch.

The searches expanded south and west from Trumpers Way for a further eight square kilometres, including Boston Manor Park and Osterley Park.

Police say inaccessible areas were identified that required specialist equipment, trained officers, police divers or search dogs.

A number were within Boston Manor Park.

The densely overgrown area where Arnis Zalkalns was discovered was one such spot. This had not been searched previously, they reported.