The 61-year-old woman found dead in the River Roding yesterday committed suicide, police believe.

Det Supt Ellie O’Connor, of Redbridge Police, said she went into the river near Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, nearly two miles upstream from where her body was found.

Her personal effects were left by the water.

She added: “It’s so tragic when someone takes their own life.

“We are treating her death as non-suspicious and don’t think anyone else was involved.”

Passers-by discovered the body near Ilford Golf Club at around 9am yesterday and called the police.

Officers who first arrived at the scene had to wait for a specialist marine unit to recover the woman because of hazardous conditions in the river.

Persistent rainfall and the closure of the Thames Barrier has caused water levels to rise and washed debris into the fast-flowing river.

Det Sgt Michael Dougal said the woman’s family, including her estranged husband, have been informed.

She has not yet been named but a post-mortem tomorrow is expected to confirm her identity and the cause of death.