POLICE hunting the killer of Elsenham mother-of-two Julie Foster yesterday (Tuesday) launched a publicity campaign in an attempt to trace more witnesses.

A total of 3,000 fliers and several hundred posters were put out at Stansted Airport, and around Stansted Mountfitchet and Elsenham.

They include a picture of Mrs Foster and an appeal for people who knew her, or who were in Stansted Road, Elsenham, at about the time of her murder to come forward.

Detectives hope airport shift workers, passengers or local taxi drivers who were travelling through the area that night will have vital information.

Detective Constable Nick Newbury said: "We're optimistic that there will be some positive leads from this."

Asked whether he was confident of finding the killer, he said: "In Essex we have a very good record of clearing up serious crime and we remain confident that this one will be detected."

Mr Newbury said media coverage had prompted hundreds of responses from the public, but more information was still needed. He added there were numerous lines of enquiry but would give no details of what they were.

Mrs Foster, who would have celebrated her 42nd birthday last week, was battered to death as she slept in her Stansted Road home between midnight and 7am on Tuesday, July 10.

Her younger son Jay, eight who heard the killer creeping up the stairs in the middle of the night discovered his mother's body in the morning.

Police this week said he was "coping well".

A man detectives wanted to speak to in connection with the case has contacted police following an appeal last week. The physiotherapist, named only as Paul by police, was seen drinking with Mrs Foster in her home town of Wolverhampton two days before she was murdered.

He is currently abroad but will be seen by officers on his return to England.