A MYSTERY woman whose remains were found in woods in Middlesex a year ago may have come from the Blackburn area, police have revealed.

The body of the woman, who was in her early 20s and a size 16, was so decomposed, police are unable to tell if she was murdered or whether she killed herself.

But isotopic analysis of the body, which studies trace elements in the bones, has revealed that she had high levels of strontium in her bone marrow which were consistent with having lived in Blackburn or Chorley for the past five or 10 years.

Strontium is a mineral widely distributed through nature and levels in the soil determine how much there will be in food and drinking water.

It is only the second time the isotope method has been used by police.

It also helped identify the part of Africa where juju murder victim 'Adam', whose body was found near the River Thames in London last year, came from.

The woman's body was discovered by ramblers near Ducks Hill Road, Ruislip, in an area known as Mad Bess Wood, on December 15, last year. It is believed to have been there since early the previous month.

A post-mortem examination failed to establish a formal cause of death and further tests proved inconclusive.

It is thought the woman was between 25 and 35, 5ft 10in and white with short, dark brown hair. She was wearing beige Regatta trousers (34in waist, 33in inside leg), a dark blue Levi jacket, blue Nike walking socks and brown walking boots, size six to eight.

She was also wearing an expensive 34E bra from the exclusive Rigby and Peller range. She was not wearing any jewellery, and had no money, keys or identification on her. Syringes marked "insulin" were found near the body, and binoculars in a case some distance away.

Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Green, who is leading the investigation, said: "We need the help of the public to find out who this woman is and what has happened to her. A facial reconstruction has been done in an effort to do this.

"I want to hear from anyone who may recognise this woman or anyone who has a missing friend, colleague or relative matching the description.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the incident room at Hendon on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.