A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was discovered in the search for a mum who went missing while working as a door-to-door debt collector.

Tina Cantello, 49, was on her way to her final job of the day when she went missing in Basildon, Essex, on Friday evening.

Her frantic family called police after she failed to return home from work and her mobile phone was later discovered on the side of a road.

Last night Essex Police discovered a body at a house in Derby Close, Langdon Hills, less than a mile from where her phone was found.

Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody for questioning.

Formal identification of the body is expected to take place later today.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “At shortly before 6pm today, Saturday June 9, the body of a woman was found at a property in Derby Close, Langdon Hills.

“An investigation is underway and the woman’s death is being treated as suspicious.

“A 38-year-old man from Basildon has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

“Formal identification of the woman has not yet taken place.”

Tina was assigned three jobs on Friday and was on her way to her final one when she went missing.

She was last seen in Deacons Drive, a few streets away from Durham Road where her phone was recovered.

A frantic police search was launched in the area, and nearby woodland had also been scoured for clues.

Tina’s car – a silver Mini with the registration plate EX61 JLO – has not yet been found.

Speaking to Essex Live, James Taylor – the boyfriend of Tina’s daughter Aimee – earlier said: “She is a loan collector and so she goes to door to door.

"She went out yesterday [Friday] about 5pm did her rounds and was due back at 7.30pm that night.

"We know she had three stops at work and she made contact with her first two jobs and then on the way to her third one we think she went missing.