POLICE today said it would be “some time” before the bodies of five women killed in and around Ipswich would be released to their families.

POLICE today said it would be “some time” before the bodies of five women killed in and around Ipswich would be released to their families.

Investigations into the deaths of the women are today continuing and police say they cannot release the bodies yet.

Funerals will not be able to take place for the women, Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, until the bodies are released by the coroner.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “The bodies haven't been released for burial and they are not likely to be for some time.”

Miss Adams' body was discovered nearly four weeks ago on December 2 and police are yet to establish a cause of death.

Her body was the first to be found in what became known as Ipswich's red-light killings. It was discovered in Belstead Brook at Hintlesham.

A post mortem on Miss Adams' body failed to uncover a clear cause of death. Police handling the cases warned it could take up to six weeks to uncover cause of her death when a post mortem proved inconclusive.

Officers have also not established the cause of death of Miss Nicol, whose body was found in Belstead Brook at Copdock, about two miles from Miss Adams', on December 8.

The body of Miss Nicholls, who was of no fixed address, was found at Levington on December 12.

As with Miss Adams, who lived in Blenheim Road, Ipswich, and Miss Nicol, of Woolverstone Close, Ipswich, a post mortem failed to uncover her cause of death and investigations are continuing.

A post mortem conducted by senior Home Office pathologist Dr Nat Carey revealed that Miss Alderton, who lived in Colchester, died of asphyxiation. Her body was found near to Amberfield School at Nacton on December 10.

A post mortem on Miss Clennell's body, which was found about 100metres from Miss Nicholls' body at Levington also on December 12, revealed she died from compression to the neck. Miss Clennell lived in London Road, Ipswich.

All five women had worked as prostitutes in Ipswich's red-light district.

Investigations into how the women died are ongoing and toxicology results are pending. Inquests into the deaths have been opened and adjourned.

Steve Wright, 48, of London Road, Ipswich has been charged with the murder of all five women.

He is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on January 2 and currently remains in custody at Belmarsh prison.

IN the wake of the five killings which rocked Ipswich, The Evening Star launched a campaign to remember the victims.

The Somebody's Daughter campaign will raise money to help vulnerable young people in Ipswich and has been launched in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council.

Several hundreds of pounds have already been pledged to the fund and it is hoped the victims' families will help to identify the areas where the money would be best spent.

Special posters have been created and are now available for readers and businesses to display in their windows.

To request one, contact Star reporter Josh Warwick on 01473 324840 or e-mail josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk

Donations to the memorial fund can be made in a number of ways:

Visit www.eveningstar.co.uk and click on the Somebody's Daughter link on the homepage

Pay in person at Ipswich Borough Council's customer service centre in the Town Hall

Pay over the phone by calling 01473 433777

Send a cheque, made payable to Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund, to PO Box 772, Ipswich Borough Council, Grafton House, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DE