MURDER victim Sandra Parkinson could have met her killer through the

lonely hearts column of the local newspaper, according to police.

The 22-year-old from Stevenston, Ayrshire, who was found raped and

strangled near a coastal path in Salcombe, South Devon, two weeks ago,

placed a series of advertisements in the personal columns.

Detectives fear it might have led to a planned cliff-top rendezvous

with the man who turned out to be her killer.

They have appealed to anyone who replied to her advert.

Detective Superintendent Phil Pyke, who is leading the hunt, told a

news conference: ''We are building up a picture of a lonely girl who was

looking for romance.''

He said police know she placed ads last summer and advertised in one

or two local shops asking for work as a baby-sitter or cleaner. They

have also been told she placed more ads this year.

''One or two people have come forward and said they met her through

these contact columns, one of which was a local free ads paper believed

to be the Totnes Free Ads.

''We are appealing to people who met her this way to contact us and we

are researching the archives of local papers and asking at local shops

to see if an advert along these lines was placed.

''We have been told that she placed an advert in the Heart Search and

Romance column of a local paper the previous summer saying: 'Red-headed

21-year-old girl seeks man of her dreams.' We understand she received

replies to this advert.''

Mr Pyke said she gave a post office box number that in one or two

cases gave a contact telephone number.

He added: ''We don't want to speculate that the killer is just local.

She may well have advertised in national publications.''

The latest step in the hunt resembles the 1989 film, Sea of Love,

starring Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin in which a killer appears to be

using a lonely hearts column.

Mr Pyke added: ''We are also appealing to anyone who replied to a

Lonely Heart ad from Sandra or placed an ad to which she responded to

get in touch with us. We fully appreciate the sensitivity of this appeal

and guarantee that all information will be treated in the strictest

confidence.''

Female 22, warm, affectionate, honest, GSOH, slim, curves in all the

right places, misses cuddles, seeks male to share and enjoy life, South

Devon area, photo if possible, genuine replies only. Write to Box No.

787.