Melanie Hall murder police receive 'significant information'

Police investigating the murder of a woman whose remains were found near the M5 have found a car which they say may be a "significant line of inquiry".

Melanie Hall, 25, from Wiltshire, was working at the Royal United Hospital in Bath when she went missing in 1996.

Four years after her body was found, police said the white Volkswagen Golf they have traced "may be relevant".

Officers also said they have received "significant information" about a blue rope used to tie up her body.

Detectives from Avon and Somerset Police said "recent intelligence" they received was "significant and very interesting".

'Blue rope'

Det Supt Mike Courtiour said: "Over the past four years we have received information, intelligence and names that we have taken seriously, researched and thoroughly investigated.

"We have recently received information concerning the origin of the blue rope that was used to tie up Melanie's body.

"It is significant information and we are actively working on that line of inquiry.

"We are working with forensic scientists in relation to the rope and the circumstances of where that particular length of rope came from.

"Also, we have recently found and recovered a car that may be relevant to events in 1996 when Melanie disappeared.

"It is a white A-registered Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet which is currently being examined by forensic scientists.

"At this stage we do not know if it is connected with the case, but it is a very interesting and possibly significant line of inquiry."

Melanie Hall went missing in June 1996

'Positive news'

Ms Hall's father Steve Hall said: "This is very positive news. Gradually the pieces of the jigsaw are being put together to bring Melanie's killer or killers to justice.

"We always knew it would take a long time, but these new developments appear very encouraging.

"It's time for whoever has information about Melanie's murder to come forward and bring this to an end, because it will come to an end eventually.

"The police won't give up until they get a result."

Ms Hall vanished after a night out at Cadillac's nightclub in Bath in June 1996.

A bag containing her bones and skull was found in a black bin liner by a workman clearing vegetation next to a slip-road at junction 14, near Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, on 5 October, 2009.

An Avon and Somerset Police police spokesman said six detectives were currently working on the case.