A 26-YEAR-OLD man is in police custody after a woman was found dead in the boot of a burnt out car.

Officers opened a murder investigation and launched a man hunt after the car was found in Ifield.

Around 2.30pm on Friday, a Volkswagen Jetta car parked close to Ifield Golf Club in Rusper Road near Horsham was reported to be on fire.

When fire crews attended, they found a body in the boot of the car, which had suffered extensive fire damage.

A post mortem has revealed the body is that of a woman possibly aged in her 20s and that she died of smoke inhalation. Officers are still trying to identify who she is.

The man from London was arrested this morning and is now in custody awaiting questioning.

Anyone with information about the woman’s identity or any information should call 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Maderia.