DETECTIVES are tonight hunting a second man, believed to be their prime suspect in the murder of Hampshire mum Pennie Davis.

The Daily Echo understands that enquiries have been focussed on finding him following a significant development in the investigation.

The new lead has resulted in teams of armed officers repeatedly descending on a Hampshire community as they told residents they were searching for an “armed man” feared to be dangerous.

The suspect - the identity of whom the Daily Echo has agreed not to publish following a request from Hampshire police - this evening remained at large despite days of intensive searches and officers working round the clock to trace him.

Officers warned he was “a dangerous offender” who needed to be found and said those aware of who he is and where he might be should not approach him but call 999.

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, leading the probe, said the intense police activity by armed officers would continue until they found their man.

He told the Daily Echo: “We will continue to carry out this activity until such time as we have found and arrested this individual. “He is a dangerous offender who we need to find and arrest as soon as possible. People should not approach him and call 999.”

Since the weekend, teams of firearms officers have been seen at a number of locations across the Waterside area as the enquiry remained heavily focussed on the community where 47-year-old Pennie lived and worked.

Residents living in the area told the Daily Echo how they felt their community had been in 'lockdown' due to the number of police seen in the area and the circling of the national police helicopter in the skies across the Waterside for several days.

Specialist dogs teams have also been seen carrying out searches and patrols since Saturday.

They appeared to be concentrating their efforts around the Long Lane area of Hardley and the Netley View housing estate, neighbouring Blackfield and around the Hythe bypass.

The heightened police presence comes as detectives leading the hunt for Pennie's killer, revealed they believe the mum of five was followed to the paddock near Beaulieu where she kept her horses.

She was found dead by her husband of four months, Pete, having been brutally stabbed.

Officers yesterday returned to the scene of the killing in the field exactly a week on from the killing, stopping drivers in the hope of gleaning new information.

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, said: “It's been a week since Pennie was murdered and in that time we've made significant progress with more than 200 officers and staff working on the investigation.

“We're continuing to follow up several lines of enquiry and I'm really grateful to everyone who has called in with information.

“Pennie had recently starting renting out the field but not many people were aware of that. One of our lines of enquiry therefore is the possibility she was followed from Blackfield Sainsbury's, where she'd been working that morning, to the paddock by Leygreen Farm.

“I'd ask anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be, to contact us.”

Hampshire police would not confirm if the increased police activity in the Waterside area was in conenciton with the inquiry.

The Crimestoppers charity announced it was putting up a £5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible for the murder.

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

The Operation Biscotti team can be contacted on 101.