New leads in body in river probe

Police investigating the murder of a 24-year-old woman whose body was found in an river have new lines of inquiry about two men they want to trace.

Helen Maughan, who lived in Colchester, was found dead in the River Colne in the town on 20 May. She is thought to have been sexually assaulted.

The two men were caught on CCTV at the Middleborough car park on Friday, 18 May and later rode off on bikes.

Police believe they had been with Ms Maughan before she died.

She had been out drinking in pubs in Colchester town centre from about 1400 BST on 18 May and visited the Quilter's bar, Victoria Inn and Marquis of Granby.

Body dumped

She is believed to have been sexually assaulted on the towpath before her body was dumped in the river.

Police said there was blood on the towpath and the bottom half of Ms Maughan's clothes had been taken off.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Following the showing of the CCTV police received information that has given lines of inquiry that may help identity the two men shown."