Plea to murdered Emma's clients

Emma Caldwell was last seen alive on 4 April

Clients of a murdered prostitute have been urged to come forward before they are tracked down by police.

Detectives are hunting the killer of 27-year-old Emma Caldwell, whose body was found in woodland near Biggar in South Lanarkshire on 8 May.

Some of Emma's clients have contacted police, and officers now plan to use her diary to find those who have not.

Det Supt Willie Johnston said: "I would stress that it may be more appropriate for them to contact us."

Police also want to speak to a taxi driver who was seen in the area and have issued a photograph of the kind of mobile phone Emma was carrying when she was murdered.

Emma's mobile phone, similar to this one, has never been found

Originally from Erskine, she had been living at a hostel in the Govanhill area of Glasgow before she disappeared on 4 April.

Emma had become a heroin addict following the death of her sister some years before and was working as a prostitute on the streets of the city.

Her body was found in woodland between Roberton and Rigside.

Police said there had so far been a "limited" response from people who use the area.

Det Supt Johnston urged people who have visited the site to come forward.

He said: "I am certain that someone who uses this area may have information that may be vital in solving Emma's murder.

Courting couples

"We have been informed of sightings of motor vehicles using the single-track road close to the site, in particular a sighting of a dark-coloured private hire Skoda taxi, possibly an Octavia, that was seen in the area in April after Emma went missing.

"We would appeal for the driver of that vehicle, or anyone who knows who the driver may be, to come forward."

Det Supt Johnston said the area was popular with cyclists, dog-walkers, hang-gliders, bird watchers and courting couples.

We are in the process of reviewing the contents of a diary with partial details, found in Emma's room at the hostel, and will be making contact with those whose details feature in her diary Det Supt Willie Johnston

He added: "We are not in the business of making moral judgements on people, but we need to eliminate from the inquiry as many people as possible who have been at this site for reasons other than murder.

"We also wish to interview those clients of Emma who have not yet come forward to the police.

"The next stage of the inquiry will focus on identifying those particular individuals.

"We are in the process of reviewing the contents of a diary with partial details, found in Emma's room at the hostel, and will be making contact with those whose details feature in her diary.

Mobile phone

"I would stress that it may be more appropriate for them to contact us and would emphasise that arrangements can be made to interview these people in a confidential and sensitive manner."

Emma's red Nokia mobile phone, which she had with her the night she was last seen, has never been found.

Police have urged anyone who recognise it from the picture released on Friday to get in touch.