Police from Kent have been drafted in to help with a major murder investigation in Essex.

Nahid Almanea was stabbed to death on her way to university in Colchester last Tuesday.

Two more ponds will be drained in the coming days by officers hunting for the 31-year-old Saudi woman's killer.

Yesterday, they emptied one close to where Miss Almanea was killed to carry out a fingertip search.

Her death came just two months after 33 year-old James Attfield - known as Jim - was fatally stabbed in the town.

Officers are not ruling out that a serial killer was responsible for both murders.

Det Ch Supt Steve Worron, from Essex Police, confirmed officers from Kent and the Met Police have joined the case.

He said: "We do not yet know whether the murders of Nahid Almanea and James Attfield have been committed by the same person or people.

"A criminal profiler from the National Crime Agency has carried out a thorough assessment of all the evidence in connection with both murders and a decision has been taken that they remain separate but parallel investigations at this time.

"However the circumstances of both crimes mean that we must consider the possibility that the same killer or killers are responsible.

"We are continuing to explore this line of enquiry, along with many others, and both investigations are being continually resourced and are receiving equal precedence."

Officers have also released a picture of a tan-coloured jacket worn by a man they are seeking.

He was seen on the Salary Brook Trail shortly before Miss Almanea's body was found.

Police said he was described as aged in his late teens to 30, with short thick black hair, clean shaven, of average build and tanned appearance.

He was wearing a distinctive Italian-style designer beige jacket and baggy trousers.

Video: CCTV footage believed to show Nahid Almanea moments before she was killed

Anyone with information is asked to phone police on 01245 282103, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.