Police release new CCTV of murdered teenager Lucy McHugh

Police have released new CCTV footage showing the last known movements of murdered schoolgirl Lucy McHugh.

The 13-year-old was found stabbed to death in an area of woodland at Southampton Sports Centre on 26 July, having last been seen the morning before.

Initial footage of her walking past a Tesco Express in the morning around half an hour after she left home was played to Southampton fans on the big screen at St Mary's Stadium before their Premier League opener against Burnley on Sunday, in the hope it may lead to vital information being passed on to Hampshire Police.

Now, detectives investigating her death have released new footage of the same moment she walked past the supermarket, taken from a different angle and with greater clarity than the previous footage.

Lucy is seen walking past the convenience store in Wimpson Lane at 9.06am, and then on Coxford Road near Southampton General Hospital at 9.22am on 25 July.

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton said: "These CCTV images show Lucy walking purposefully in the direction of the General Hospital shortly after she left her home in Mansel Road East.

"Perhaps you were on your way to a hospital appointment that morning and saw Lucy, but did not think anything of it at the time. You may have seen her near the hospital or after she went past the Tesco Express further along Coxford Road.

"You'll see that a number 17 bus passed Lucy near the hospital. Were you on that bus and did you see her later on? It's never too late to get in touch - your piece of information could make the difference in finding Lucy's killer."

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Lucy's murder.

The only suspect at this stage is Stephen-Alan Nicholson, who was released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child.

He was later remanded in custody by Southampton Magistrates' Court for failing to provide detectives with his Facebook account password.

:: Anyone with information that could help police should call 101, quoting Operation Refund, or make a report using the following link: mipp.police.uk/operation/1004.