Police are searching the area where her body was burned

The 31-year-old's charred and strangled body was found in a nature reserve 18 miles from her Brighton home on Saturday.

Sussex Police had been searching for Ms Longhurst since she disappeared five weeks ago on 14 March.

On Monday, as tributes were paid to the popular teacher, the officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, said: "Our job now is to find Jane's killer."

Firefighters were called to a blaze on Wiggonholt Common near Pulborough, West Sussex, at 2030 BST and found Ms Longhurst's body.

Jane was loved by all who knew her and she enjoyed life to the full Longhurst family

DCI Dennis told a press conference the killer had tried to dispose of the body in a hurry, in an open area before dark.

He said: "Jane's been kept somewhere, she's been dead for a long time and she probably died shortly after she's disappeared.

"They have tried to get rid of her in a fit of panic, something spooked them to deposit her where they did, and then they've tried to burn evidence."

He said the body had been "well preserved" for the four or five weeks since the murder.

Police want to trace three vehicles seen in the area, which is a beauty spot.

They are:

• a Renault Espace, seen driving up and down the street, with a registration beginning similar to L960 and ending RX
• a red Volkswagon car, seen coming from the A283, which slowed down at the scene of the blaze, with a male driver aged 40 to 45, with a scruffy appearance and long brown or blond hair
• a brown or dark green Ford Focus parked in a nearby car park

A statement from the family, read out at the press conference, said: "Whilst we expected the worst, none of us could be prepared for how devastating this is.

"We've lost a devoted daughter, sister and partner.

"Jane was loved by all who knew her and she enjoyed life to the full.

"She will be missed terribly and her death has left a hole in our lives."

Colleagues of the murdered schoolteacher have paid tributes to her as a "delightful, genuine and caring person".

Headteacher of Uplands special school in Brighton said staff were "deeply shocked" at the news of Ms Longhurst's death.

'Dedicated and hard-working'

Mr Atkins said: "We are devastated by the news of the tragic death of our colleague made worse by the horrible circumstances surrounding her death.

"She was an extremely dedicated and hard-working teacher and tried to increase the knowledge of her children, not only within the classroom but outside as well."

She was formally identified by dental records on Sunday.

A post mortem revealed Ms Longhurst was strangled and police said that she had been dead for a "long time".

Police want to hear from anyone who may know where her blue Nokia 3310 mobile phone, black Next wallet, shoes and blue denim jacket are.