The body of an acclaimed French chef missing for two years has been found in a freezer.

The corpse of Jean-Francois Poinard was discovered by detectives after his girlfriend, Guylene Collober, told her daughter "something unfortunate" had had happened to him, Sky News in the UK reports.

Ms Collober is believed to have exposed the information to her daughter during a night out.

Her daughter told police who found the frozen corpse in the foetal position and covered with plastic bags.

Ms Collober reportedly collapsed when officers arrived at her apartment, saying: "I think you'll find what you're looking for."

Police will now carry out a full post-mortem examination in a bid to establish the exact cause of death.

Ms Collober has been taken into custody and charged with hiding a body. Further charges could eventuate depending on the findings of the post-mortem.

Mr Poinard was a chef of note in the 1970s and 80s, running a number of restaurants in the French capital of Lyon.