Jodi clothes DNA tested

Tributes have been pouring in to Jodi

The clothes of murdered Jodi Jones are being DNA tested as police continue the investigation to find her killer.

Detective Inspector Tom Martin said officers were now "progressing a wide range of enquiries based on responses from the public".

He told reporters on Thursday: "We have had a tremendous response from the public and have received over 350 telephone calls.

"However, we have no confirmed sightings of Jodi after she left her home address around 5pm on Monday.

"So, we are appealing again to anyone who saw Jodi or a girl fitting her description to contact the police."

Jodi's body was found partially clothed on Monday just before midnight on a woodland path in Easthouses, Dalkeith.

The St David's Roman Catholic High School pupil was due to meet her boyfriend on the night she was brutally attacked with what police believe was a knife.

JODI JONES - DESCRIPTION 5ft 7in tall slim build shoulder length curly brown hair wearing glasses wearing a "distinctive" blue hooded baggy sweatshirt wearing dark trousers wearing blue shoes

Police are concentrating on the area around the footpath where Jodi was attacked in the hope that clues, including the murder weapon, might be found.

Mr Martin said forensic tests were being carried out on the victim's "distinctive" dark blue baggy hooded top, dark trousers and blue shoes, which were recovered from the murder scene.

He added that it was clear Jodi, 14, had struggled with her attacker and he was sure that DNA identifying the culprit could be found on the clothing.

"We will be looking for three things, surface debris, different types of staining and damage to the clothing," said Mr Martin.

The detective inspector also revealed that Jodi's mobile phone had been broken and she was using her mother's handset to text her boyfriend.

Police warning

Meanwhile, as schools in Midlothian finish for the summer, more than 10,000 personal safety advice notices are being distributed.

Detectives have described the assault on Jodi as "brutal and frenzied", and are warning parents and children to be extra vigilant.

They set out seven recommendations, advising children to travel with a friend, stick to main roads and to tell an adult about their route and expected arrival times.

Police continue to examine the murder scene

One of the recommendations from Superintendent Jim Tilston was for young people to consider carrying personal attack alarms.

Tributes have been pouring in and friends and teachers at Jodi's school held a service to mark her death.

More than 30 bouquets have been laid at the entrance to the path where her body was found, less than 200 yards from her home.

Mr Martin said that it was hard to know if the suspect could be from within the community.

But he said the place where the crime happened suggested "a degree of local knowledge" was involved.

He said indications were that the person they were looking for was indeed a male, but declined to give further details at this stage.