THE parents of missing schoolgirl Amanda Dowler faced a traumatic wait last night to hear if a body pulled from the River Thames was that of their daughter.

Surrey Police confirmed the body of a female had been recovered from the water at Sunbury Lock, just south of Sunbury Court Island, at 8.15pm yesterday.

Spokeswoman Sarah McGregor, speaking at the scene, said Amanda's parents, Robert and Sally Dowler, had been informed of the find.

The stretch of the Thames is only a short distance from Walton-on-Thames, where 13-year-old Amanda, also known as Milly, went missing a month ago.

Ms McGregor said: "We believe that the body has been underwater for some time but it is very difficult to say how long.

"We can confirm that the body is that of a female. But I can't confirm what the age is."

The body was being examined in a tent set up over the spot where it was found, which is on the Walton-on-Thames side of the river.

The spokeswoman said forensic examinations would continue throughout the night and it would be unlikely any more would be known until this morning.

She added: "Milly Dowler's parents had been informed of the find and a police liaison officer was with them at their home."

Ms McGregor said she could not confirm whether or not the body was clothed but said it was "whole".

Police were called to the scene around 3.50pm when a passer-by spotted the body in the water.

Milly vanished as she walked home from the railway station in Walton-on-Thames on March 21.

She had phoned her father to say she was heading home but never arrived.

A massive police hunt was launched but there has so far been only limited clues as to her whereabouts.

Mr and Mrs Dowler have issued a number of emotional pleas for her safe return, including an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch programme, which also staged a reconstruction of her last known movements.

The couple also admitted they feared their daughter may have been abducted but police said it was more likely Milly ran away with someone rather than being abducted.

Celebrities including Pop Idol Will Young and actor Jonathan Pryce have joined the appeals for information.