Hannah Graham Police Find Human Remains

Police have found human remains they believe could be those of British University of Virginia student Hannah Graham.

Virginia State Police Chief Tim Longo and colleagues told a news conference further forensic tests would be conducted to establish if the remains are those of the 18-year-old.

The remains were found at around noon on Saturday by volunteers searching an abandoned property to the south of Charlottesville, a college town about 100 miles southwest of Washington.

Albemarle County's Police Chief Col Steve Sellers said: "Right now we have the discovery of human remains and a great deal of work ahead of us.

"We cannot and will not jump to any conclusions regarding today's discovery. I ask for the public's patience as we move forward and pursue what is now a new, ongoing death investigation."

Police said a public search planned for Walnut Creek Park in Albemarle County on Sunday had been called off.

Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr, 32, has been charged with abduction with intent to defile Ms Graham, who has been missing since 13 September.

Thousands of volunteers had joined searches for the student, who was born in the UK but has lived in the US since she was five.

Virginia State Police have said Mr Matthew's arrest provided a "forensic link" to the 2009 unsolved murder of Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old who also went missing from Charlottesville.

The suspect was arrested on a Texas beach last month.

He is the last man to have been seen with Ms Graham before her disappearance.

Police believe Ms Graham met Mr Matthew at the Tempo Restaurant in Charlottesville.

Mr Matthew's father has insisted he is innocent and was probably simply trying to help Ms Graham.