REPAIR works on a reservoir where a woman’s body was found last year are set to continue this summer.

Wentwood reservoir was drained last year so that works could be carried out on the reservoir tower. New water flow valves were also set to be installed in the reservoir as part of the works.

But as the reservoir was drained of water in February 2017 the body of murder victim Sandie Bowen was found.

Mrs Bowen disappeared from her home in Llandogo, Monmouthshire, in August 1997.

In June 1998, her husband, Michael Bowen, was charged and later convicted of the murder of his wife, despite her body not being found.

Bowen later admitted responsibility for her death in 2002, but refused to reveal where her body had been dumped.

A post-mortem examination of the body found at Wentwood, and forensic analysis of a sample of DNA - which was extracted from the bones - confirmed the body was that of Mrs Bowen.

Work at Wentwood reservoir is set to resume this summer, following the completion of an access road and work platform.

Welsh Water have said that the discovery of Ms Bowen’s body has not delayed the planned works.

A spokeswoman said: “To ensure we keep all of our reservoirs in the best condition, we occasionally need to carry out some refurbishments to them and the time has come for us to do some work at Wentwood reservoir near Newport.

“We started work in 2017 at Wentwood reservoir in preparation for planned maintenance work which is due to start in the summer this year. The preparation work involved draining the reservoir and creating a new access road and a safe working platform within the reservoir. This platform enabled us to safely carry out surveys which would help to complete the design for the planned maintenance work.

“The planned work involves refurbishment of the reservoir tower and installation of new valves which will help manage and control the flow of water from the reservoir.

“We anticipate that the refurbishment work will take around 18 months to complete and the reservoir is likely to take around 12 months to refill once this work is complete.”