BAFFLED police have admitted that the strongest lead they have on a mystery dead woman is a hair clip.

Part of the girl's skeleton was discovered last Thursday at the side of a road by a passer-by who saw a rib-cage protruding from the soil.

But police still do not have enough evidence to launch a murder enquiry.

Detective Superintendent John Donlon said that a green butterfly clip could be the vital and only clue.

He said: "I hope that someone who sees it will recognise it as it's really the only clue that has been left with the remains."

A post-mortem was unable to reveal the cause of death but Det Sup Donlon said they are treating it as "very suspicious".

The remains were discovered in undergrowth near the A40 between the Wilton Park and Pyebush roundabouts, Beaconsfield.

The bones were of a female, possibly white, aged between 16 and 35 and between 4ft 11in and 5ft 2in tall. Hair found close to the body was quite long and light ginger or mid-brown.

Dr Alison MacVean, practising criminologist and lecturer at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, High Wycombe, said she has assisted police in similar cases.

She said: "Forensics has developed to such an extent that police will get a closer description. The process takes several weeks to do and it will take another four to six weeks to get more details.

"The weather in this case would have had an enormous effect on the body.

"The natural erosion of the ground and the wet weather may have been the reason the body became exposed."

Police officers spent four days searching the area for clues before removing the remains of the body that they believe was naked when it was dumped.

They believe the skeleton was intact when it was dumped last summer but scavenging animals took away some of the bones.

Dr MacVean pointed out that the lack of clothing could be significant.

She added: "The fact that no clothes were found and that the scene was close to a motorway could have all sorts of implications.

"The incident could have been committed elsewhere. The offender could have taken the clothes to divert away from detection or to carry on the abuse if it was a sexual crime. But without seeing the report, it is all speculation."

A major incident room has been set up in Maidenhead and there are 12 police officers looking into missing persons. Other police forces are also working with Thames Valley Police.

The area will be closed for the next few days as a further search of the area is carried out by police dogs.

Call Maidenhead Incident Room on (01628) 645678 with any information

See article Few clues in riddle of woman's skeleton