A body found in a flat in Barkingside yesterday was that of a 17-year-old girl, police have said.

The Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command is investigating the death.

A post-mortem is set to be held later today as detectives await confirmation of the cause of death.

Next of kin are in the process of being informed.

The girl’s body was found in a flat above the Labels clothes store in High Street at around 4pm yesterday.

A spokesman said the investigation is “well underway”.

The London Ambulance Service arrived at the flat at around 4pm yesterday where the woman, who was alive when they reached her, died despite efforts to save her.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said they were called shortly before 4pm to reports of a “disturbance at a residential address”.

Detectives and forensics officers remain at the scene this afternoon, which a section of pavement cordoned off as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man has been arrested “in connection with the investigation”.

He is currently in custody at an unnamed east London police station,.