THE body of a woman found submerged in a car in a lake in southwestern France is likely to be that of Blackburn woman Evelyn Lund, who disappeared nearly two years ago.

French authorities carried out DNA tests on the decomposed corpse, which appeared to be of the same build as Evelyn Lund, the local state prosecutor, Daniele Drouy-Ayral, said.

The car, a burgundy 4x4 vehicle, was discovered last weekend.

The prosecutor added that an autopsy carried out Monday was unable to determine the cause of death, but that other tests were being conducted.

"The probability is very strong" that the body is that of Mrs Lund," she said.

Evelyn Lund, who lived in the village of Rayssac, near Toulouse, with her husband, Robert, was aged 52 when she went missing after visiting nearby friends on December 29, 1999.

The body and car were discovered Sunday by a horserider navigating a difficult trail next to the lake, whose waters had dropped significantly because of dry weather.

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