Police believe a burned body found near a roadway in a national park on Friday is that of missing teacher Stephanie Scott.

Hundreds of people have joined Ms Scott’s parents at a memorial event at Leeton, in southern New South Wales, to support each other in the wake of the news.

• Leeton turns out to mourn Stephanie Scott

Stephanie Scott. Photo: AAP

Many wore yellow, as requested by Ms Scott’s family, to honour the 26-year-old drama teacher on what should have been her wedding day.

Investigators discovered a woman’s body in bushland about 70km north-west of the town on Friday, five days after she was reported missing.

School cleaner Vincent Stanford, 24, has been charged with Ms Scott’s murder.

Superintendent Michael Rowan, from the Griffith Local Area Command, said police on motorbikes discovered the body about five metres from a roadway in Cocoparra National Park, near Griffith.

“I’ve been asked over the last couple of days about whether there had been burning of the body. I can certainly say that is confirmed, it’s the case,” Superintendent Rowan said.

“The investigation is ongoing but in terms of our searching and things like that, we certainly believe that the remains are those of Stephanie.”

The body will be transported to Sydney for forensic examination, Superintendent Rowan said.

“In terms of a timeframe, all I can say is that we’ve got a priority in terms of our forensic people and so it will be as soon as we possibly can.”

Stephanie Scott memorial picnic. Photo: AAP

Superintendent Rowan said an item found on Friday in an irrigation channel on Leeton’s outskirts, initially reported to be a laptop, was an iPad with Leeton High School identification on it.

Both Ms Scott and Stanford worked at the school.

Police searched the channel after a witness reported seeing a man throw something into it on Monday.

The body, which has not been formally identified, was found in a narrow strip of bushland on the western side of the national park.

It has been removed, but the area remains cordoned off as forensic specialists continue to process the scene.

Several police vehicles, including a forensics van, were still on site this morning, and a number of yellow evidence markers were placed on the ground.

The strip of bushland borders a rural property.

Ms Scott was due to marry her partner of five years, Aaron Leeson-Woolley, in the central-western NSW town of Eugowra today.

Her sister, Kim Scott, used Facebook to publish a poem she had written for the couple’s wedding, which has been shared by thousands of users of the social media site.

In part, it read:

To my dearest Stephanie and Aaron on your wedding day. This is for you. xxxx

…

They met in Canowindra,
Young and sweet.
Flirting at IGA,
Between the creamy pasta salad and cold meat.

Twilight soccer
Was where it was at.
Cowra played host,
The competition was phat.

Stephanie and Aaron,
Made a good team.
A match made in heaven,
So it would seem.

Hundreds gather for memorial picnic

Ms Scott’s family invited her friends and loved ones, as well as members of the public, to join them at Leeton’s Mountford Park this afternoon to celebrate her life.

Hundreds of people, many dressed in yellow as requested by Ms Scott’s family, have gathered at the park.

In a statement on social media, Ms Scott’s family encouraged people to pack a picnic, wear yellow and bring their favourite memory of Ms Scott.

Decorating the Leeton Hotel to remember Stephanie Scott. Photo: AAP

“Tomorrow should have been the happiest day of Stephanie and Aaron’s lives,” the statement read.

“To help us all through this difficult time, we invite everyone to join us at Mountford Park, Leeton, tomorrow for a lunchtime affair to celebrate the life of our ‘Button-Nose’.”

Many businesses in the town have also been decorated in yellow in Ms Scott’s honour.

Riverina MP Michael McCormack spoke to Ms Scott’s parents at the event, describing them as “stoic beyond belief”.

“The absolute courage they’ve shown to come out here today and talk to locals and to receive the condolences – and look, people around here are suffering, but no-one is suffering as much as they are and their family and obviously her poor fiance who should be getting married today,” he said.

“It’s beautiful weather, but such tragic circumstances.”

Superintendent Rowan said the community remained in shock.

“The support that we’ve got from the community and the wider community within the Local Area Command has been tremendous,” he said.

“The volunteers that came and assisted us and people who have come and cooked for us, provided meals for us overnight and all that sort of thing, it’s their way of paying back and from my perspective, I say thank you very much.”

Stanford remains in custody and is due to appear in court in June.