A MURDER investigation was under way last night after police confirmed a naked body found dumped in a stream near Ipswich was that of missing prostitute Gemma Adams.

A MURDER investigation was under way last night after police confirmed a naked body found dumped in a stream near Ipswich was that of missing prostitute Gemma Adams.

Miss Adams, 25, had vanished two weeks ago, and the gruesome discovery has heightened fears surrounding the safety of a second missing vice girl, Tani Nicol, 19, also from Ipswich.

The body of Miss Adams was found in a remote area of Thorpe's Hill, Hintlesham, which remained sealed off last night as scenes of crimes officers continued to search for clues. A road block was also set up along part of the A1071.

Police have said they are treating the death of Miss Adams as suspicious but have yet to reveal how she died.

Last night, a force spokeswoman said there had been no new developments in the search for Miss Nicol.

Miss Adams' body was found face down in water at about 11.45am on Saturday by fish warden Trevor Saunders.

It is not known how long it had been there or whether it had been washed down from further up stream.

She had last been seen alive near to the BMW garage in West End Road, Ipswich, in the early hours of November 15. She was dropped off in Ipswich's red-light district by her boyfriend of 10 years, Jon Simpson.

Philip Dowding-Young, 49, owns Hintlesham Fisheries, which borders the area where the body was found, said yesterday he believed it could have been dumped from a bridge off the A1071.

He said: “Knowing the area as I do, it would be impossible for the body to have been placed there like that. I think further investigation will show it was either placed in at the bridge or further down.

“There's no vehicular access to the area where it was found, unless someone carried the body down there. The police couldn't get the body out because it was wedged in so the fire brigade came and removed it on Saturday night.”

The police helicopter was used for a long period of Saturday as officers mapped out the area as they began the investigation.

Martin Lambert, who lives near to the bridge, which is on the approach to Hintlesham from the Ipswich direction, was unaware of what had happened but was alerted by the sound of the helicopter.

He said: “I was thinking 'why are they up there? Nothing ever happens here'. There was a police car just by the bridge but they sometimes sit there anyway.

“I am shocked about it because it's a very quiet area. There's a lot of traffic but not many houses.”

Anyone with information about Miss Adams' death, or the whereabouts of Miss Nicol is asked to call the Incident Room on 01473 613538 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.