A £10,000 reward has been offered up for information leading to the arrest and conviction of murdered teenager Lucy McHugh's killer.

Charity Crimestoppers has made the offer after the 13-year-old's body was discovered in woodland at Southampton Sports Centre two weeks ago.

It hopes by offering the reward more people will come forward with vital information in the investigation to track the Redbridge Community School's murderer.

Emily van der Lely, a spokeswoman for the charity, said she hoped the reward would aid Hampshire Constabulary's probe.

She added: "This is every family’s worst nightmare, to have their child taken away from them at such a young age, it’s heartbreaking.

"I can’t even begin to imagine what Lucy went through and the suffering her family are currently experiencing. This is why our charity is putting up this money, in the hope we can bring the person or people to justice.

"Everyone who contacts Crimestoppers remains 100 per cent anonymous. Always. I’d really encourage anyone with information to pick up the phone or complete our secure and anonymous online form, and help provide some answers to what happened to Lucy."

Lucy was found stabbed to death in woodland near the Sports Centre's ski slope by a dog walker at around 7.45am on Thursday, July 26.

Since then, Hampshire Constabulary has launched "one of its biggest investigations" in recent years.

More than 200 officers have been involved in the hunt for the teenager's killer, as well as hundreds of the public.

They have searched a large area of the Sports Centre as well as a property on Mansel Road East, where Lucy lived with her family, and nearby wasteland.

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, who is leading the investigation, thanked the public for its help, which has seen more than 200 reports made to police in relation to the crime.

He added: "There is so much work to be done and we continue to seek information about the murder weapon and Lucy’s final movements.

"Some people may have been away and missed our appeals, so we urge members of the public to keeping sharing them with their friends.

"We now know that Lucy was in Lordswood on the morning she left home. What I really want to know is where she was going and who was she meeting.

"If you are one of Lucy’s friends, can you tell us who she may know who either lives in or frequents the Lordswood area?

"Did Lucy tell you about someone she was going to meet that day or has met before in the area?

"Lucy may have told you this in confidence but you are not being disloyal to her by giving us this information now - you will not be in trouble if you have been holding this back."

Lucy left her house in Mansel Road East, Southampton, at about 9am on Wednesday, July 25.

It was revealed by police yesterday that she was captured in CCTV footage at the Tesco Express on the corner of Coxford Road and Lordswood Road at 9.30am.

She was found dead at the nearby Southampton Sports Centre at about 7.45am on Thursday, July 26.

Earlier in the investigation, Stephen Nicholson, 24, from Southampton, was charged with an offence which relates to failing to disclose a password to his Facebook account to detectives investigating Lucy’s murder.

He was also arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child.

He was remanded in custody until 31 August.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.