POLICE investigating the killings of five women in the Ipswich area have fingerprinted several people in the Old Stoke area, it emerged today.

POLICE investigating the killings of five women in the Ipswich area have fingerprinted several people in the Old Stoke area, it emerged today.

The fingerprinting is thought to be connected to the seizure of a van belonging to the landlord of Uncle Tom's Cabin, a pub in Vernon Street. Detectives are believed to be investigating the possibility more than one person may have been involved in the killings.

Eddie Roberts, the landlord of the pub, is not a suspect, but it is thought other people may have used the van.

Steve Wright, 48, of London Road, Ipswich, has been charged with the murders of Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24 and Annette Nicholls, 29.

A friend of Wright's partner Pamela Goodman, who did not wish to be named, previously told the Star Wright had been known to borrow vehicles.

The same friend, who lives in the Old Stoke area, added: "The police have been fingerprinting people here. They seem to think the killer may have had an accomplice.

"A couple of peoples ' fingerprints have been found in the van that was seized and they are trying to rule them out of inquiries. "

According to friends of Ms Goodman there is no truth in national newspaper speculation that she and Wright got engaged when she visited her partner at Belmarsh prison on Friday.

They say the visit went ahead with Ms Goodman taken to the prison by Mr Roberts and his partner Sheila but from there was no proposal of marriage.

Ms Goodman shared a bedsit in London Road with Wright and is not thought to have been permitted back to the flat since his arrest on December 19.

Passers-by can see a Christmas tree in the window through the open curtains in the front room and a sign in the window says CCTV is operating.

A resident in Old Stoke, who also did not wish to be named, said: "She is in the pub (Uncle Tom's Cabin) all the time, she is sitting in there all the time.

" She is a bit uncomfortable because people keep staring at her. "

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said she could not comment on any aspect of the inquiry while proceedings were active.