Forensic teams search undergrowth in murder probe after body of woman in her 40s was found dumped next to slip road on A3 in Surrey as two men are arrested
Police forensic teams today carried out a finger tips search in undergrowth as part of the investigation into the murder of a woman in her 40s whose body was found dumped next to a slip road out of Guildford.
Teams of officers used rakes and spiked tools to delve through the grass and hedges alongside the northbound slip road of the A3 in Surrey.
The road remained closed to traffic as the teams methodically worked their way from the entrance off the A320 Woking Road to where the body was found on Monday afternoon by a member of the public.
Police in Surrey have launched a murder investigation after a woman's body, thought to be in her 40s, was found lying beside busy road in Surrey by a member of the public on Monday
Forensic markers were placed around the scene as the uniformed officers carried out their search.
Police do not believe the woman was killed at the scene. Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder inquiry.
Surrey police said the woman, who is said to be in her 40s, has not been formally identified.
While there are CCTV cameras on the A3 road there are not thought to be any on the northbound slip road that would have captured the body being dumped by the side of the road.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Emma Vickers said: 'We are investigating this as a murder which we believe has been committed elsewhere with the victim's body left in this location.
'We are still trying to determine how long the body had been there for and we are working with forensic experts as part of our inquiries.
'We will issue further updates as soon as we are in a position to do so.'
She added: 'While our investigation is in the early stages, we would like to reassure local residents that there is a dedicated team of officers working round the clock to establish exactly what has happened and we will provide more information as and when we are able to.'
Police have arrested two men in connection with the murder investigation. Pictured: the scene
Surrey Police said the slip road will remain closed until further notice, and a cordon will be in place for at least another day.
Motorists are asked to avoid using the route.
Local residents have been shocked by the discovery in the normally quiet area.
Ben Halstead, who lived nearby, said: 'It is just really unusual for this area. The sliproad has been shut off for days. I came back on Monday evening and it was mayhem here.
'There must have been 14 or 15 police cars, they must have only just found her. It seems like someone walking past the bushes must have noticed the body.
'It is quite a random spot to find the body, maybe they just stopped to dump it. It is just such a safe area, the world seems to be going crazy.'
Another local resident said: 'It is a very peaceful area and it is very shocking that something like this could happen. My second job is in the town centre and I come back quite late so this is very worrying.
'It is really concerning because my wife often comes back from the station quite late, I tell her not to walk and get a taxi but she likes to walk and save some money, but you just never know what can happen.
'This is a really rich area, I have been in Guildford for 20 years and I have never seen anything like this.
'It is really quiet around here, I would have heard a woman screaming. I can normally hear people talking in the pub until late at night. This is very unusual and unexpected.'
Ian, a boater who had come down to the nearby river to launch his boat, added: 'I just came across it on the internet, it is a very random spot to find a body.
'We have not had anything like it around here, a few people have drowned in the river, but we have not had a murder before.'
On Tuesday evening, a spokesman for Surrey Police said: 'An investigation, led by Surrey and Sussex's Major Crime Team is in the early stages. Enquiries remain ongoing to identify the woman, believed to be in her forties and contact her next of kin.
'Two men have been arrested this evening in connection with this investigation. They remain in custody.'