A head pulled out of Regent’s Canal has been identified as that of EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie.

The head belonging to the 29-year-old actress, who lived in Bethnal Green, was found near Kingsland Road on Sunday.

The grisly discovery was made by a boater at Kings Land Basin cleaning the river, according to police.

It is believed someone became suspicious after hair was seen sticking out of a hole in a recycling bag. It comes months after other body parts belonging to Ms McCluskie were also found in Regent’s Canal.

The identity of the head was established today within the last few minutes, using dental tests, according to a coroners officer.

Ms McCluskie’s torso was recovered from Regent’s Canal on March 6 after being spotted floating near Broadway Market by a member of the public.

Searches by police mariner divers then led to the recovery of an arm in the canal on March 19 followed by the discovery of her remaining body parts over the following days.

Ms McCluskie went missing from her home in Pelter Street, which she shared with her ill mother Pauline and brother Tony on March 1.

Her brother Tony McCluskie, aged, 35, is due to stand trial at the Old Bailey in November accused of her murder.