Police have appealed for the public's help in tracing the last movements of murdered Essex prostitute Anneli Alderton.

The 24-year-old was last seen on the 5.53pm train from Harwich to Colchester on Sunday, December 3.

At a press conference this morning Suffolk Police said a post mortem revealed she had died of asphyxiation.

Click here to post your tributes to Essex murder victim Anneli Alderton

Anneli's naked body was spotted in woodland near Nacton by a passing motorist at about 3:20pm on Sunday.

Police have not yet formally linked her death with the other two murder victims, Gemma Adams and teenager Tania Nicol, but Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull said today: "Although there are obvious similarities to the murders of Gemma and Tania, we need to carry out further work to establish whether these deaths are linked."

There are also concerns for the safety of two further prostitutes. Paula Clennell, 24, has not been seen since late on Saturday, and Annette Nicholls, 29, has been missing since December 4.

Conflicting reports say Miss Alderton was from either Harwich or Colchester.

  • Anyone with information on any of these incidents can contact the Telephone Hotline on 0800 0961011, or ring Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111, or report information on-line at suffolk.police.uk