POLICE believe they have identified the naked and battered body of a woman dumped in an isolated lane near Droitwich.

The corpse was discovered at Rashwood at 8.30am on Sunday.

The grim discovery has sparked a nationwide hunt to find the killer. Police are expected to reveal the victim's identity today once the family has been informed.

A man walking his dog in the leafy lane leading to Rashwood Nursing Home found the body.

He told the Advertiser: "From 50 yards I guessed it was a dead body.

"As I approached the girl I hoped it would be a mannequin but unfortunately it wasn't. I was horrified by what I saw.

"She was so small and covered in blood. Even if you knew her she would have been unrecognisable."

DS Mel Shore, who is leading the investigation said, officers and forensic experts were continuing their detailed search.

He said the location, just minutes away from Junction 5 of the M5, was significant.

Black shoes and a white vest believed to belong to the victim have been discovered.

No murder weapon has been found.

A post-mortem established the woman, aged between 16 and 25, was killed by multiple blows to the head.

It is believed she died between 6pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.

Police would not confirm whether she had been sexually assaulted.

The victim was white, 5ft 3in tall, with blue-green eyes and collar length brown hair.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on (01527) 586002.