Police have exhausted all avenues of inquiry in the bid to identify a mystery woman whose body was found washed up on a south Essex beach.

A major investigation was launched by MoD police in Colchester after the body was discovered by a man walking his dog on Foulness Island on April 16.

A picture of the woman was constructed with help from an orthodontist and a facial reconstruction surgeon, and oceanographic experts from the University of Norwich were approached to find out where the body could have drifted from.

A post-mortem showed she had drowned and officers believe her body could have been on the beach for 12 days since the last high tide.

All theories were followed up by police - but no leads have been found.

Det Sgt Steve Basford, of the MoD Police at Colchester Garrison, said: "We're starting to wind down our inquiries.

"We've made appeals in the newspapers and on the television and radio, but heard nothing. The last avenue we could have explored was male DNA from the body, but there wasn't any. This implies the woman had no physical contact with anyone before she died.

"We've circulated our findings to other countries in Europe where we believe she could have come from, but nothing has come of that. It may be possible she came from an unstable country where it might not necessarily be noticed if someone went missing.

"The only other option is that she was a recluse who nobody knew. If she was from the area, the fact that nobody reported it rouses suspicion. But I find it hard to believe that friends or neighbours wouldn't have noticed and reported it."

A report by police has now been presented to the coroner and a decision will soon be made on what to do with the body. If her religion is not determined she will be buried in "common grave" paid for by Southend Council with a Church of England service.

By Chris Weeks

Reporter's e-mail: chris.weeks@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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