ONE of the most important lines of inquiry for police in the hunt for the serial killer is the search for clothing belonging to the victims.All five women were naked when they were discovered and, although police have received several reports of clothing found at various sites around the county - and some in Essex - none have yet been confirmed as relevant to the investigation.

ONE of the most important lines of inquiry for police in the hunt for the serial killer is the search for clothing belonging to the victims.

All five women were naked when they were discovered and, although police have received several reports of clothing found at various sites around the county - and some in Essex - none have yet been confirmed as relevant to the investigation.

Tests are still being conducted on trainers found outside the Wilco garage in Norwich Road, Ipswich last week, to ascertain if they belonged to Gemma Adams.

It is not known whether any possessions such as jewellery, purses, mobile phones or bags were found with any of the women.

Criminal psychologists have suggested that the killer is taking the clothing as a macabre trophy of the murders, or simply to lessen the chances of being caught by DNA testing.

And police yesterday said they were attempting to establish what the three most recent victims were wearing when they went missing.

Anyone who spots any discarded clothing around Suffolk is being asked to report the find to Suffolk police.

Sightings of the victims are also key to establishing what they may have been wearing when they disappeared.

At the police press conference yesterday, Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull said: “Sadly because of the very transient nature of their lives, we are struggling to establish what they were wearing. “That's why the latest sightings are crucial to determine what they were wearing.”

When Gemma was last seen on November 15 she was wearing a black waterproof waist-length jacket with a hood and a zip up the front, light blue jeans with studs on the pockets, a red top and white and chrome Nike trainers, and was carrying a black handbag.

Police have previously said that Tania was wearing “quite distinctive” clothing when she was last seen on October 30.

She wore a light-coloured top, mid-blue cut-off jeans and pink high-heeled shoes. The shoes in particular are likely to stand out if they have been dumped somewhere.

Last week, Detective Chief Inspector John Quinton, who is overseeing the investigation into Miss Nicol's disappearance, said: “As part of our enquiries we have been working with a company to get a photo of the same shoes Tania was known to be wearing the night she went missing.

“We know New Look manufactured the shoes and they are very distinctive, having a pink sparkly appearance, a small buckle and high stiletto heels.

“It is imperative that we try to work out Tania's movements on the night she went missing. We hope that by issuing this picture of the shoes someone's memory will be jogged and they will remember seeing her that evening or since.”

New Look was believed to be specially remanufacturing the shoe, which has now been discontinued, to help police further with their enquiries.

Anyone who finds any discarded clothing should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or 0800 096 1011.