A NUMBER of items have been recovered by specialist officers searching ponds as part of a murder probe.

Shallow water searches of ornamental lily ponds in the Ocean Village complex in Southampton have been carried out over several days last week where officers found “several items of potential interest”.

It was the latest search to be carried out by officers investigating the murder of 85-yearold great-grandmother Delia Hughes, pictured above, who was found dead at her flat in the marina complex.

Detective Superintendent Tony Harris said: “These latest searches have revealed several items which may be linked to the murder of Delia Hughes.

“We have therefore sent them off for forensic analysis and we remain very much open minded as to whether they will provide us with any evidence. We now have to wait while scientists examine them and this could take several weeks.

“In the meantime, the investigation team are following up numerous lines of enquiry and we have still been unable to identify a man who was seen in the Ocean Village area on the morning of Saturday, August 18, when Mrs Hughes’ body was discovered. It is imperative that we speak to this man as he could hold vital information. If anyone knows who this man is, we would ask them to contact us.”

Anyone who can assist the investigation team is asked to contact Southampton Central police station on 101 or the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting Operation Anglian.