Police investigating the murder of PCSO Julia James are conducting another major search of the area.

The 53-year-old died from serious head injuries while out walking her dog on Tuesday.

Her body was found in woods close to her home in the village of Snowdown, which is between Canterbury and Dover.

This evening specialist officers were out in fields around the village.

It is understood the National Crime Agency has been drafted in to help with the investigation.

Police say they have not ruled out Ms James was killed by a stranger, someone she came across during her work, someone trying to steal her dog, or as part of a sexual assault.

A witness has told how he saw the specialist officers begin their work.

He said: "As I drove up the road I saw loads of officers, all in black. It was in Butter Street, between Snowdown and Nonington.

"Someone said 'oh my god, are they police?' There was a lot of officers. Thirty of them all in black suits with National Crime Agency on their backs.

"They said 'we're certified search specialists' and they'd been called in. They said there's nothing to worry about and they were looking for a weapon.

"They added the whole field should be sealed off. They spent about three hours on Butter Street.

"Yesterday afternoon the police's drone team were there and police helicopter came over last night.

"They spent about three hours in the field on foot and searched both sides of it.

"Last night the helicopter circled around the area."

Meanwhile, officers have set up in tent in neighbouring Aylesham where people can share information.

It is close to where floral tributes have been left in her memory.

One of the bouquets is from Kent Police with the message: "For our dear colleague Julia, a service so highly regarded. A precious life so tragically taken. We will leave no stone unturned. Your colleagues."

The village's Union Flag has also been lowered to half mast in memory of the grandmother.

In a statement released yesterday, her family described her as "fiercely loyal".

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Julia's uncle Michael Turnbull pleaded for the public's help to "find this monster before he can cause more grief to another family".

He described her killer as "some worthless cowardly excuse for a human being", and said Julia was killed "for no other reason than his own sense of self gratification".

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