M&S socks may indicate "Juistine's" nationality

Mr Scheffer believes the woman went to her death in British waters and was carried by the currents to Juist.

Her bra and socks were from M&S, as were her brown suede loafers.

The woman's knickers were from British Home Stores and she was also wearing a Sekonda watch.

Mr Scheffer said: "Everything she was wearing was British. A French woman might have a bra from M&S but not all English clothes.

"The rest of her clothes have gone. But we believe she spent one year in the North Sea so we cannot say whether they came off in the sea or before that."

Relatives sought

Investigations revealed the clothes must have been bought around three years ago.

A post-mortem examination has not revealed whether she was murdered, committed suicide or drowned in an accident.

The woman was 5ft 10in, of west European origin, and aged about 30.

The police have dental records, and want families of missing British people to come forward to offer a match.

The shoes: Another important clue

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware that a body was washed up on the North Sea coast in Germany in November 2001 and that the German police suspect it may be that of a British woman.

"We understand that the British police are already aware of the existence of the body but have been unable to establish an identity."

Police have ruled out the body being that of the missing British woman Louise Kerton, who was last seen in the German city of Aachen.