Detectives in Norwich were today looking at the unsolved murders of two prostitutes and the disappearance of another for a link to the Suffolk serial killings.

Natalie Pearman, 16, was found strangled on the outskirts of the city in 1992. Michelle Bettles, 22, died in similar circumstances 10 years later.

A third Norwich prostitute, Kellie Pratt, 29, disappeared from the red light area of the city six years ago and has never been found.

The news comes as Suffolk Police continue to question two men on suspicion of murdering five prostitutes whose naked bodies were found near Ipswich.

Inspector Jamie Ayers of Norfolk Police said the three cases had always remained open, but confirmed that a senior police officer had now been assigned to each one .

Forensic teams spent yesterday examining the homes of the two men - named unofficially as Tom Stephens, 37, and Steve Wright, 48, - as more than 500 officers continued to work on the investigation.

Detectives can question Stephens until tomorrow and Wright until Saturday under the terms of legislation covering the way police must deal with suspects.

They could opt to release either or both on bail then resume questioning at a later date.

Stephens was arrested at his home early on Monday and Wright at his home early on Tuesday.

Police have not said whether they have established any links between Stephens and Wright.

Officers from more than 31 forces are involved in the inquiry - one of the biggest in the UK. They are analysing more than 10,000 pieces of information provided after public appeals and checking more than 10,000 hours of CCTV footage seized in and around Ipswich.

Sources said Stephens, who worked at a Tesco store near Ipswich, was a former Norfolk special constable and a former taxi driver.

Wright worked as a forklift truck driver until a few weeks ago. Recently he has been working in a factory.