Women have been told to "avoid woods" and "not veer from their normal route" after the shocking murder of PCSO Julia James.

An update on the investigation was given by police at a press conference this morning.

Assistant Chief Constable Tom Richards addressed media close to where the brave officer was found dead on a remote track in Snowdown, near Dover, on Tuesday.

ACC Richards said people should remain cautious but stopped short of telling them to stay away from particular locations.

But the The Times has reported that a PCSO in the area has told residents to avoid woodland and stick to their usual dog walking routes as the hunt for the killer continues. Police had previously urged people to "stay vigilant" until the "full circumstances" were known.

Read more: What we know so far

Meanwhile, there remains a huge police presence at the scene, with Aylesham Road shut off and lined with more than 20 police vehicles.

Mrs James had last been seen leaving her house to take her jack russell for a walk, but was discovered lifeless on the bridle way near Ackholt Wood at about 4pm, her beloved dog by her side.

Despite the number of police officers in the quiet hamlet, local residents remain on high alert.

Mary Bosson, a cousin of Mrs James' mum, says everyone is scared to take their dogs for a walk.

"It is worrying," she said. "We all walk our dogs around that area. I have a pregnant granddaughter and she walks her two dogs around there. She was there Monday and Tuesday, on her own. We don't know if it was random or what. We won't be doing it now until we find out."

Mrs James lived in The Crescent, where a field - popular with dog walkers - at the end of the road was taped off by police on Thursday morning.

Dorothy Morgan has lived around the corner in South Avenue for 25 years, and says Mrs James went to St Joseph's Catholic School with her daughter.

"It's so chilling," she said. "She was a really nice girl. I just can't believe it. We seldom walk about, but I've seen more people walking around in twos. Quite a lot of people have dogs here."

Another mum, who also lives in South Avenue, told KentOnline she won't walk her dog along the track where Mrs James was found

"I used to go most days on my own but I just wouldn't do that now," she said.

"I'm also having to take my daughter to school, whereas normally she'd take the bus. I don't want her walking on her own, or waiting for it on her own, and I think most parents will probably be doing the same thing.

"There's obviously quite a big police presence so hopefully everything will be OK, and we have a strong community, which is nice."

Another woman in the street said: 'I've lived here 36 years and I lived here as a child as well.

"This is very very awful news. I only knew her to say hello to. Usually I walk my daughter's dog down there, probably 50 yards from where she was found. But I won't now. I feel fear at the moment. But in a way I feel safe because there's so much police presence."

Our reporter speaks from the scene

Keith Thomas, 70, has lived in Spinney Lane, Aylesham, since 1977.

"The whole village is shocked by the whole event, being a local girl as well," he said.

"My wife goes for walks with the grandchildren there. It will stop people coming out. It is so close to home.

"I have great trust in the police, and I think that they will catch him. People don't keep quiet about things like that in this village. If somebody knows something, they will say it."

Mrs James is understood to have been working from home on Tuesday, before leaving the house in the afternoon.

Neighbour Sean Simmonds believes he may have been the last person to see her alive.

"I was polishing my car on the driveway and I looked up and saw Julia walking on the other side of the road with her dog," he said.

"She was heading towards the woods at the back. I didn't see her come back. Around 4pm the police arrived and started cordoning off the area. I might have been the last person to see her alive."

PCSO James was found just three miles from where Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan and nine-year-old Josie and their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in July 1996.

Lin, Megan and their dog were killed but Josie survived. Michael Stone was convicted of the murders and remains in prison.

At about 2pm on Wednesday, police began scouring woodland off Holt Road, about 150 yards from Mrs James' house.

In the hours before more than 20 police vehicles descended on Aylesham Road, lining the country road opposite a nearby travellers' site.

On Wednesday morning more officers arrived, with the delivery of 12 portaloos the night before suggesting the force is expecting to remain at the scene for some time.

And yesterday two routes which Mrs James is thought to have taken to get from her home to fields were sealed off.

Mrs James' former partner, Wayne Davis, 62, says he learned of her death from their son, Patrick, 23.

He told The Sun: "The first I heard of it was Tuesday night. I asked my son if he know what was happening in Snowdown.

"He said to begin with he didn't, but there were police everywhere. I said I'd heard a woman had lost her life.

"Then a bit later the phone rang and he said 'Dad, it's mum.' He was devastated.

"What I personally find odd is it's happened in the middle of nowhere. It's a mystery. For something like that to happen - you just don't know whether it's just random."

Mr Davis added: "Julia was the love of my life but we separated, as couples sometimes do. She was a lovely woman.

"What she did as a PCSO was not just a job - it was a way of life."

Mrs James joined Kent Police in 2007 after leaving her job at a Kent County Council learning resource centre.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is among those to offer condolences to her family.

Speaking to Sky yesterday, she said: "First of all my thoughts are with Julia's family and friends. I was debriefed from the chief constables' call last night on this awful, awful murder.

"We've got to let Kent Police have the time and space to get on with their investigation.

"This is also Julia's home force so her colleagues and friends in the force will need much support as well right now too.

"We need to let the police get on and do their investigation. This is tragic beyond words. Across the country and in policing we are all grieving for Julia."

On Tuesday night, the Home Secretary tweeted: "So saddened to hear of the death of @kent_police PCSO Julia James. I offer my sincere condolences to Julia’s friends, family and colleagues at this awful time."

And Kent's assistant chief constable Peter Ayling posted: "Some shattered people today following the loss of one of our own. Support in place and extensive investigation but a tough day for many. Thoughts with all who knew & loved Julia, RIP."

Officers from Kent's serious crime directorate are investigating the "suspicious" death of Mrs James, who is believed to have worked in the Ashford area.

ACC Richards said: "It is vitally important that anyone who was in the area on Monday and Tuesday who may have seen something suspicious gets in touch.

"We are particularly keen to speak to those who regularly visit the area who may have seen something out of place and those who drove by who have dashcam footage."

They are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area on Monday and Tuesday who may have seen something unusual or suspicious. They are urged to contact Kent Police on 0800 0514526. Anyone with video footage can submit it online by clicking here.

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