The body of a woman found in the sea off Lowestoft could be that off a missing holiday-maker, it has emerged.Lita Conner, 49, was swimming with a friend while on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, when she disappeared on July 21.

The body of a woman found in the sea off Lowestoft could be that off a missing holiday-maker, it has emerged.

Lita Conner, 49, was swimming with a friend while on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, when she disappeared on July 21.

The Londoner, who was staying at Sheppey Beach Villas and went for a swim at about 6pm, has not been seen since.

Coastguards called out Lowestoft lifeboat last Thursday, along with a rescue helicopter from Wattisham, after passengers and crew on the freight ferry Norcape spotted a body floating without a lifejacket 18 miles east of Sizewell.

Sally Farrell, a spokeswoman for Kent Police, said: "We are examining the possibility it could be her, but it's very difficult as we haven't got a positive ID."

Yesterday, a post mortem examination at the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, failed to establish how the woman died and more tests are set to be carried out.

Because of the badly decomposed state of the body, it is thought that police will identify her using the jewellery she was wearing.

Steve Turner, coroner's officer, said: "It's expected that she is a missing person from Kent.

"At the moment, there are further tests being carried out following the post mortem to establish the cause of death.

"That, together with the identity, will probably come together by the end of the week.

"In this particular case the identification is being done by the property that was on her at the time."