A DETECTIVE from Trowbridge will play a key role in helping the family of student Rachel Whitear keep up-to-date with the latest probe into her death.

Det Con Chris Conway, who is based at Trowbridge CID, has been chosen for the pivotal role of family liaison officer and will spend the coming months working closely with Rachel's parents Michael and Pauline Holcroft.

DC Conway spent Friday talking to Rachel's family at their home in Ledbury, Herefordshire, as a team of detectives began what will be the third inquiry into the 21-year-old's death.

Mr Holcroft, 55, spoke to the Wiltshire Times this week about his "new confidence" in Wiltshire officers including DC Conway and investigation leader Det Ch Supt Paul Howlett and his hopes for an end to three years of anguish.

"We are extremely pleased with the way this investigation is being handled at the moment. I have new confidence in the people we're meeting," said Mr Holcroft.

"We met up with Paul Howlett and he explained how he was going to run the review and we were happy with what he had to say. They are going to spend a lot of time in Herefordshire going through Rachel's previous acquaintances.

"The force have given us a good family liaison officer contactable at any time and we'll be keeping in touch with him.

"We have lived in the shadow of this for three years. We don't want to visit this again and want it finished so we can carry on with our lives."

Rachel's body was found kneeling on the floor of her Exmouth flat three years ago, a used needle gripped in one hand.

The disturbing image of Rachel's swollen body was released by her parents to act as a warning to other teenagers about the dangers of heroin.

Earlier this year, the Holcrofts made an official complaint against Devon and Cornwall police for the way two previous investigations were handled.

Question marks over gaps in the original investigation and a lack of a post-mortem examination have led to this latest probe, which will be overseen by the Police Complaints Authority.

Toxicology reports from a blood

sample tested after Rachel was

buried revealed that the amount of

heroin present in her blood would not have been enough to kill her. Mr Holcroft, who believes his daughter may not have been alone when she died, said the family felt let down by the system. He said: "We are not looking to make formal complaints against individual officers, it's mainly against the system.

"I think assumptions were made in the first instance. Everyone would make the same ones but it is not for a detective to look at it like that.

DCS Howlett has appealed for anyone who has any information on Rachel's death to come forward but said on Tuesday that there was no evidence of foul play.

He said: "I am approaching this with an open mind and will consider everything and discount nothing, but there is no information whatsoever to support the theory that she was murdered."

Wiltshire police believe the investigation could last up to four months.

A decision is yet to be made on whether Rachel's body will be exhumed, but her family have already indicated that they would agree to the request if it were made.