Walking in Lucy's footsteps: The route Lucy McHugh could have walked before she was murdered

Police continue to investigate the 13-year-old's murder - after she was found dead on the morning of Thursday, July 26.

READ: Five ways you can help police in the Lucy McHugh murder investigation

Last week, officers made a breakthrough when they uncovered CCTV of the Redbridge Community School student passing a Tesco Express on the corner of Coxford Road and Lordswood Road on the previous morning.

The CCTV shows Lucy walking past the store - a short walk from the Sports Centre around 9.30am.

Police also know the teenager left her home in Mansel Road East around 9am.

But her whereabouts between those two points still remain a mystery - and police continue to ask members of the public for information.

With advice from the police, and using Google maps, we've put together a series of pictures detailing Lucy's potential walk between her home and Tesco Express.

Follow the route below:

The route

Police believe Lucy could have walked along Coxford Road to get to the Tesco Express - where she was last spotted by CCTV on the morning before her body was found.

(A Google Maps route of Lucy's possible route between Mansel Road East and the Tesco Express on Coxford Road. PLEASE NOTE: This is not an exact route and police have not ruled out other possible routes. However, officers say she could have travelled along Coxford Road)

According to Google maps, the walk between Mansel Road East and the store is approximately two miles and takes on average 40 minutes on foot.

Mansel Road East

(A generic view of Mansel Road East - Google Street View)

Police believe Lucy left her home in Mansel Road East around 9am on Wednesday, July 25.

It is not clear which route she took.

Wimpson Lane

One suggestion police have put forward is that Lucy could have walked along Wimpson Lane.

(Wimpson Lane at its junction with Romsey Road - Google Street View)

If this was the case, she would have reached these traffic lights, connecting Wimpson Lane, Romsey Road and Coxford Road.

Coxford Road

If Lucy did walk along Coxford Road, it would have made up around half of her journey.

Police believe she could have walked along Coxford Road - towards the Tesco Express where she was last seen - which is on the corner of Coxford Road and Lordswood Road.

(The beginning of Coxford Road at the Rownhams Road end - Google Street View)

If this is the route Lucy took, she would have passed Southampton General Hospital, around 9.15am-9.20am on Wednesday, July 25.

(The Coxford Road entrance to Southampton General Hospital - Google Street View)

Lordswood Road junction

What is known is that Lucy was seen on CCTV walking past the Tesco Express on Lordswood Road and Coxford Road around 9.30am.

(The Tesco Express on the junction of Coxford Road and Lordswood Road)

Where next?

It is not clear where Lucy went from here - although the last sighting of the teenager was just a few minutes walk from the Sports Centre.

If Lucy did continue to the Sports Centre at that point, she may have walked along Dunkirk Road.

(Dunkirk Road - near to the Sports Centre - Google Street View)

What happened next?

Lucy's body was found the following morning (Thursday, July 26) in a wooded area of the Sports Centre around 7.30am.

Police taped-off a large section of the area and carried out a thorough investigation over the next few days.

How you can help the police?

Officers are appealing for any sightings of Lucy in the areas of Lordshill, Coxford and Millbrook on the morning of Wednesday, July 25.

They are also appealing for any CCTV or dashcam footage of Lucy in the area that morning.

Lucy was last seen wearing the following clothes:

• Distinctive black jacket with white sleeves, the logo for the band Falling in Reverse on the front and RADKE 01 in red on the back

• White vest top

• Camouflage leggings

• Black and white Jordan 23 trainers

Detective superintendent Paul Barton, who is leading the investigation, said: “Please think back to this time last week and remember where you were and what you may have seen.

“It may have seemed insignificant at the time but, knowing now what has happened, it could prove vital to our investigation.

“We specifically want to speak to anyone who was with Lucy, who spoke to her or thinks they may have seen her last Wednesday or into the early hours of Thursday."

What to do if you have information?

If you have any information that might help us understand the circumstances of Lucy’s death, please call 101 quoting 44180282545.

Alternatively you can provide information online using this form: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/1004.

The charity Crimestoppers is also offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Lucy’s murder.

A 24-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child, and was subsequently technically bailed in relation to those offences, with conditions not to enter the Southampton area.

The same man was charged with an offence which relates to failing to disclose a password to his Facebook account to detectives investigating Lucy murder.

He was remanded in custody until 31 August.