A NEIGHBOUR of murder suspect Steve Wright today told of her horror at living next to a crime scene.Laura Fowkes, 23, who lives in the flat adjoining Wright's in London Road, Ipswich, said the last few weeks had been like a being in a film.

A NEIGHBOUR of murder suspect Steve Wright today told of her horror at living next to a crime scene.

Laura Fowkes, 23, who lives in the flat adjoining Wright's in London Road, Ipswich, said the last few weeks had been like a being in a film.

Miss Fowkes left her home at 8am on the morning of the 48-year-old's arrest and her and partner David Welton were confronted by police.

She said: “The day he was arrested we left home at 8am to go to work and there were police in the car park (behind the flat) and my partner went to get into his van and we were told we were in a crime scene and not to touch anything other than the van.

“We had to sign out with the police when we left and sign in again when we got back in the evening.”

Miss Fowkes said police would not tell her what was going on and she learnt there had been an arrest in connection with the deaths of Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24 and Annette Nicholls, 29, when reporters found her at Clinton Cards in Tower Ramparts, where she works as a manager.

She said: “Originally they (the press) thought it was my other half that had been arrested.

“I had to ring him because they wouldn't leave my place of work until they knew it wasn't him.”

She said Wright's home had remained sealed off until the Saturday before New Year's Eve and extensive searches had taken place in their shared cellar and the lane next to their flat.

She added: “Our loft was searched, that was the scariest part. The police rang me at work and said they had found a hole in the fire wall.

“I came home and there were men in forensic suits searching the loft. Luckily they told me nothing was in it.”

Miss Fowkes said she had been spoken to by police twice and her partner three times as police attempted to build up a profile of their appearance, how long they had lived at the home and when they come and go.

She said both hers, and Wright's flat were owned by the same landlord and he had been in tears following the 48-year-old's arrest.

She said things have quietened down since Wright, 48, was charged on December 21 and the police presence at Wright's flat has also reduced.

She added: “The police left the Saturday before New Year's Eve. There was noise on the day they left. It started in the morning and it sounded like they were using hammering tools.

“It's been like being in a film. There have been men in white suits combing the lane (at the side of the flats) and taking little steps.”

She said police had set up CCTV within Wright's home and were still returning to the street regularly.

Yesterday house to house inquiries were taking place in London Road.