Detectives investigating the death of a sex-change man found wrapped in chains want to trace the driver of a caravanette seen near the beach where he was found.

The vehicle was seen parked near Kessingland beach, Suffolk, a couple of days before Bryan Hooley's body was found washed up there.

The naked body of Mr Hooley, 28, of St Michael's Drive, Roxwell, near Chelmsford, was discovered on March 2.

Two days before, at about 4.45pm, a Volkswagen caravanette was seen parked at the end of Rider Haggard Lane, Kessingland, close to steps leading down to the beach.

The caravanette is described as two-tone grey and white.

A white man with dark hair and wearing a short dark anorak was seen to get out of it.

Det Supt Adrian Braddy, leading the investigation, said: "There is nothing to suggest this driver or vehicle are connected with Bryan's death. However, we are very keen to trace the driver so we can eliminate him from our inquiries."

The inquiry is now being run from an incident room at Suffolk Police headquarters, Martlesham Heath.

Police are anxious to hear from anyone who saw Hooley after February 22.

Det Supt Braddy said: "At the end of last week we had received some 120 calls from the public. However, since then there have only been a handful of calls.

"Finding the items of clothing missing from Bryan's house and tracing the origin of the weights, padlocks and chain found on his body could prove extremely useful in plotting Bryan's last movements."

Police are continuing to treat the drowning as suspicious and are awaiting confirmation of results of tests carried out on the body.

Hooley underwent a sex-change operation in 1994 and also used the name Christine Chappel. He is known to have dressed and lived both as a man and a woman.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk police on 01986 835144 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.