THE death of a woman whose body was found in a river in Norfolk alongside her partner is being treated as suspicious, police have said this evening.

Post-mortem tests on the man and woman, both in their 40s and from the Surrey area, were carried out on Monday.

They found the woman died before entering the water, probably as a result of strangulation while the man died as a result of drowning, Norfolk police said.

Officers had launched a search after finding the woman’s daughter, a 13-year-old girl, alone but unharmed on a cruiser on the Norfolk Broads on Saturday. The search began after the boat failed to be returned at the end of its hire period.

The bodies were found in the River Bure by divers close to where the boat was discovered.

Neither body has been formally identified but police said the man’s death was not being treated as suspicious.

Further forensic tests will be carried out on the woman’s body and could take up to 48 hours.

Detective Superintendent Jes Fry, of the joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said: “Our concerns remain for the welfare of the 13-year-old girl.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.

“Both deaths will now be referred to the coroner and a file will be prepared for the inquest.”

Officers are continuing to examine the boat where the teenage girl was found.