THE man leading the hunt for the killer of Newcastle student Sara Cameron says he has still to hear from a number of key witnesses.

Detective Superintendent Steve Bolam said a number of people yet to come forward could hold clues vital to the inquiry into the death of the 23-year-old sports student.

Sara was found murdered in a field near her home in Earsdon, North Tyneside, on Good Friday, April 21.

She had been out for the evening in Newcastle and had caught the last Metro to Shiremoor Metro station intending to her home in Garden Terrace, Earsdon.

Det Supt Bolam said: "A number of people have not yet come forward, possibly feeling they have nothing useful to add to the inquiry. But whether or not they saw anyone we need to speak to them.

"It will help us to continue to establish who was around and what was happening in the area when Sara was last seen alive."

Possible witnesses who left the Metro just before midnight include:

l A man aged 40-45, with medium to heavy build, clean shaven, dark brown hair, who was wearing a dark brown waist-length leather bomber jacket.

l A woman aged 23-24, 5ft 8in tall with a slim build, shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a red top and black coat draped over her knees while sitting on the train, drinking from a pint glass.

l A woman, 5ft 5in tall with fair, short hair cropped at the back, wearing baggy clothing and carrying a grey duffel bag.

l A person seen from behind, 5ft 7in tall with a stocky build, long, black frizzy hair, wearing a black leather biker's jacket with a customised skull design on it.

It has been established that a pair of black combat-type trousers found on April 25, in an alleyway near the Metro line, had been worn by Sara.

Police have taken more than 300 DNA swabs from people in the Shiremoor, Wellfield and Earsdon areas and have eliminated 53 people from the inquiry.