Australian police searching for the killer of British backpacker Caroline Stuttle began DNA tests of local men on Monday.

Miss Stuttle, 19, from York, was staying in the Queensland town of Bundaberg, 220 miles north of Brisbane, when her body was found under a 30ft bridge on 10 April this year.

Some of her belongings were missing and police believe she was the victim of a robbery.

Witnesses heard screams from near the bridge

She died after falling or being pushed off the bridge.

Bundaberg CID launched the mass DNA test after receiving a DNA profile from a sample of saliva found on the bridge.

Senior Sgt Terry Borland said the testing was a "matter of course".

"It's part of our investigation. It's something we had considered and we are doing it.

"Where it takes us is a matter of time."

Saliva clue

So far 38 men have already submitted DNA samples, taken from their mouths, to the police in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Police estimate that as many as 150 men live in the area where Miss Stuttle's body was found.

Sgt Borland said that DNA testing was only starting now because it took time for the DNA analysis of the saliva found on the bridge to be completed.

He added that it had also taken time for the force to gather the extra resources needed to carry out the tests.

Parents' thanks

He said: "The case is progressing. There's plenty of work to still do and we've got a lot of inquiries still to make."

Although only men are being asked to volunteer DNA samples at the moment, he said they would not rule out asking women to volunteer as well in the future.

Miss Stuttle's parents Alan and Marjorie thanked the people of Bundaberg for their support when they visited the town to collect their daughter's body.

No one has been arrested in connection with the case.