A man hunted after a pensioner’s murder may have left the country by ferry from Dover.

Ali Qazimaj’s car was found right next to the Eastern Docks on Sunday night and detectives believe he may have sailed from the port the evening before.

Ali Qazimaj, 42, is a suspect in the investigation into the stabbing of a 75-year-old man in Suffolk.

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The victim’s wife is still missing.

Det Ch Supt Simon Parkes said: “We are actively working to find Ali Qazimaj and determine his movements. We would ask that anyone with information contacts our incident room as soon as possible.”

A statement for Suffolk Police today added: “Detectives can now confirm that they have reliable information, which places Qazimaj at the Port of Dover Ferry Terminal at around 6.30pm on Saturday.

“It is strongly believe that he boarded a passenger ferry unaccompanied to Calais after 7pm.

“Enquiries nationally and internationally continue in an effort to locate him.”

Mr Qazimaj’s silver Citroen C3 was found at Athol Terrace, overlooking the docks’ entrance, at around midnight on the Sunday night/Monday morning .

When police put out an appeal for his whereabouts on Monday they urged people not to approach him if they saw him but instead dial 999 immediately.

Mr Qazimaj is described as white, around 5ft 6in tall, with brown eyes and dark brown greying hair.

He was last seen last Friday in the Thurrock area of Essex and police had gone to his home in nearby Tilbury on Sunday evening to find him.

Peter Stuart was found dead in woodland near his home in the village of Weybread, Suffolk, on Friday at 7.15pm. A post mortem examination confirmed that he suffered multiple stab wounds.

Both he and his wife Sylvia, 69, had been reported missing that morning, having not been traceable since Sunday, May 29 when they were filmed on CCTV in a shop. They had last been seen at their home by relatives the day before.

Suffolk Police said that another man, a 61-year-old, from Leicestershire, is now released on bail after being arrested last Sunday in connection with the murder investigation and Mrs Stuart’s disappearance.

DCI Parkes said: “Our priority remains locating Sylvia and we are continuing to conduct searches in Weybread as well as making further enquiries.

“While our hopes for Sylvia’s safety are reducing with the passage of time, there remains the possibility that she is still alive.”

Anyone with information can contact Suffolk Police through the incident room on 01473 782000.