A detective leading an inquiry into the murder of a woman whose naked body was found on a Northern Ireland beach has made a fresh appeal for information.

The body of Julie Hamill, 28, was found on a beach in Portstewart, County Londonderry on Thursday morning. She had been strangled.

Ms Hamill, who was originally from County Down, was last seen at Kelly's nightclub a mile along the coast in Portrush in the early hours of that day.

Police are trying to establish a motive for the killing and have been carrying out detailed searches in the Island Tasserty Road area of the town.

Detective Chief Inspector Hamilton Houston said he now believes a girl in a "helpless condition" who was seen being escorted from God's Lounge in Kelly's was Ms Hamill.

He also revealed that clothes found during police searches belonged to the murder victim.

He added: "The police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw the girl being carried to a car."

In particular, he said, police want to hear from car owners and taxi drivers who were in the nightclub car park around 0140 GMT on Thursday.

Earlier, police ruled out a sexual assault on the victim, although she was naked when her body was found by a jogger.

She had been a part time guidance officer at the Causeway Institute of Further and Higher Education in Ballymoney, County Antrim and lived in a flat in Portrush.

She was the niece of South Down Social Democratic and Labour Party MP and party chief whip Eddie McGrady and was originally from Downpatrick in County Down.

A special incident room has been set up in Portrush RUC Station and anyone with information about Ms Hamill's movements is asked to contact them on 01265 44122 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.