Party outfit may hold clue to Milly murder

A satin bodice bought by Milly Dowler for a Halloween party may provide police with the breakthrough they need to solve the teenager's murder.

Police have revealed that this is the garment found in Milly's bedroom that contained traces of male DNA, matching DNA found in a church hundreds of miles away.

Officers said the bodice is one of the few leads they have left to investigate. Last week, on the anniversary of Milly's abduction, detectives disclosed details of the top and where it was bought.

Her remains were found, six months after her disappearance, in Yately Heath Woods near Fleet, Hampshire. She was buried at a private service last Friday.

Surrey police revealed that DNA found on an item of Milly's clothing was identical to a sample on a mug left at St Paul's church near Sunderland. They are unsure how DNA from the same man was left on the cup and Milly's bodice, which she bought from women's clothing store New Look but never wore.

Police believe a man may have left traces of his skin tissue or sweat on the top which he bought from a New Look branch in the North-east. He returned the top; it was sent back to the depot, then on to the New Look branch in Kingston, Surrey, where it was bought by Milly in a sale.