POLICE investigating the deaths of five prostitutes were last night checking reports that a handbag and clothes had been found.
Chloe BagsOfficers said they had been told that a handbag had been found in central Ipswich and women's clothes found in the River Orwell near Ipswich.
But a spokeswoman for Suffolk Police could not say whether the reports were significant.
Detectives hunting the serial killer now "fear the worst" as specialists continue to comb the bleak woodland where two bodies were found on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged full support for officers working on the case, as a Sunday newspaper offered a pounds 250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
A Home Office pathologist was last night examining the body of one of the two women, which detectives said had been removed from woods at Levington, Suffolk, to allow Dr Nat Cary to carry out post- mortem tests.
Suffolk police said the second body - found 150 metres away - would be moved today.
Officers said they were still unable to confirm that the dead women were missing prostitutes Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.
The women were the fourth and fifth found dead near Ipswich in a 10-day period.
Fellow Ipswich prostitutes Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, and Anneli Alderton, 24, were found dead in nearby villages.
Their naked bodies were discovered close to the A14 dual carriageway which runs south of Ipswich.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull said detectives are sure that none of the five women died where they were found. He said: "We have not found what appear to be murder scenes," he said.
Tiffany Earrings He said police chiefs were "emotionally overwhelmed" after learning five prostitutes had been found dead. He said there was "stunned silence" when a meeting of police commanders was given the news.
"These tragic events have clearly overwhelmed us emotionally," said Mr Gull, who is leading the hunt for the serial killer targeting women in the Ipswich red light area.
"When we heard this breaking news, there was stunned silence. I now fear the worst."
He added: "It has been overwhelming. These are tragic circumstances. Whatever people may think of street workers or about prostitutes, these are young girls that come from families.
"It is tragic, tragic news." Mr Gull said the two women found on Tuesday were also naked and lying around 150 yards apart on rough ground near a main road running past the village.
More than 150 officers are now hunting the serial killer thought to be behind the attacks.
Suffolk Police say officers and specialist support staff from a number of other forces are helping.
embroidered patches
The Ipswich killings were raised in the House of Commons yesterday and Prime Minister Tony Blair promised full support for the police in dealing with the "horror" of the case.
"We will do everything we can to support the police in the difficult and challenging work they do and I've every confidence they will perform their task well," he said.
Tory leader
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