A murdered homeless woman whose remains were found washed up on an island was discovered wearing a "mask of gaffer tape", detectives revealed on Thursday.

Angela Millington, 33, was discovered on Foulness Island in Essex in June 2014, but DNA results did not identify her until more than a month later.

She was last seen in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in February of that year and was known among the town's street drinkers and homeless people.

Police investigating her death have now released mock-up images showing how they believe the mask could have looked, as well as photos of how the tape was found, in a bid to catch her killer.

Investigating officer DCI Simon Werrett said: "We know Angela lived a chaotic lifestyle, at some times she lived with her partner in Southend and other times she then moved back to live on the streets, mainly down Southend High Street.

"We know from people we have spoken to she was last seen around the end of January and beginning of February at night by the street pastors.

"We still don't know how she died. We've got only skeletal remains, what was found near her was a mask of gaffer tape around her face.

"We don't know if it was before or after death it was put on.