Hunt for schoolgirl's killers

Gemma Clarke was studying at a sixth form college

Detectives are investigating after a teenage girl was stabbed to death as she walked home from work in Somerset.

Gemma Clarke, 16, was found by a horse rider in a ditch next to a field on the edge of the hamlet of West Lambrook, near South Petherton on Thursday.

Police said Gemma, of Mady Farm, Martock, worked as a catering assistant at the nearby Nag's Head pub and was on her way home.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "She was seen to leave the Nag's Head at 2200 GMT on Wednesday night intending to go home.

Family's anguish

"At 0800 GMT the next morning her mother telephoned police after she discovered she had not returned."

A post-mortem examination carried out at Southmead Hospital has revealed that Gemma died as a result of being stabbed.

Gemma worked at the Nag's Head pub

Detective Chief Inspector Arthur Lewis, leading the case, said it was Gemma's normal practice to walk home from work as she lived very close to the Nag's Head pub.

Her body was found four miles away from the pub.

Her family were too upset to comment.

The headteacher of Stanchester Community School, where Gemma was a pupil in the nearby village of Stoke sub Hamdon, confirmed a pupil was missing.

Headteacher Glyn Ottery said: "We understand that one of our Year 11 female students was last seen by her friends at approximately 2300 GMT on Wednesday night and has not been seen since."

Police cordon

It is understood the school held a special assembly to break the news of Gemma's murder to its students.

Officers from Avon and Somerset Police are conducting house-to-house inquiries in the village of Martock.

A recreation ground in the village was cordoned off by police in connection with the inquiry.

An incident room has been set up at Yeovil Police Station and more than 50 officers have been assigned to the inquiry which is being led by Det Ch Insp Arthur Lewis.