Lucy McHugh murder: Police carry out new searches near where schoolgirl's body was found

Police are carrying out new searches near where the body of murdered schoolgirl Lucy McHugh was found.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed officers had returned to Southampton Sports Centre as part of an ongoing investigation into the death of the 13-year-old, who was discovered in woodland near the venue in July.

She had been stabbed to death.

The latest searches took place in an area not previously examined as part of a new line of inquiry, a spokesman for the force revealed.

In August, the man arrested on suspicion of Lucy's murder was jailed for not giving his Facebook password to police.

Stephen Nicholson, a family friend who was staying in the teenager's home until shortly before her death, refused a request from detectives to grant access to his account so they could investigate any messages sent between him and Lucy.

The 24-year-old admitted the charge under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) when he appeared via video-link at Southampton Crown Court.

He was jailed for 14 months by judge Christopher Parker QC.

It prompted Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick to call on social media companies to hand over any requested passwords so that detectives could gain access to an account within minutes.