»A missing persons agency has called for information about two bodies found in Epping Forest that have never been identified.

Two bodies, discovered in 1981 and 2003 respectively, are listed on the Missing Persons Bureau website, which went live last November and contains the details of about 1,000 unidentified people from across the UK.

The bureau’s “core aim” is to bring “resolution and peace to families” who may have lost loved ones in the past.

Sherri Latham, a tactical analyst for the National Crime Agency’s bureau, said: “The response to the unidentified cases database from the general public has been very positive.

There are two cases linked to Redbridge that are featured on the website, and I encourage everyone to have a look and see if they can offer any information about these cases.”

On February 18, 1981, the thin decomposed 6ft body of a white European man aged 30-40 was found in the undergrowth in Epping Forest.

He had a money belt containing English and Spanish money and wore a watch, costing approximately £40.

Ten years ago, the body of a person aged 40 years or more was found in the forest. Experts could not identify the person’s sex as the body was believed to have been there for up to 20 years.

The person was wearing a gold wedding ring.

Ms Latham, outlining the bureau’s plans for the future, said: “(The bureau) has provided answers to three families that never would have known what had happened to their loved ones without it.

“We have a number of developments we are looking to introduce over the next year or two, which could include a mobile app for the site, a secure platform for use by police and coroners, as well as an enhanced search facility.”