THE detective leading the hunt for a murderer has walked the escape route the knifeman may have taken.

And officers have issued a photograph of a jacket similar to the one worn by the man believed to have killed 23-year-old Nazia Ahmed.

The county council worker died after being attacked in her home in Shear Bank Road, Blackburn, on Saturday.

Police are hunting for her estranged husband, Zameer Ahmed, 26, who lived on the same street but has not been seen since the attack, which also left Nazia's 20-year-old sister Shazia seriously injured.

Yesterday detectives, including the man leading the inquiry, Det Supt Mick Gradwell, attempted to put together the route the attacker could have taken after the attack and appealed for information on any crimes he might have committed on the way.

Police said seemingly trivial crimes in the neighbourhood where the 23-year-old was stabbed to death could give them more information about her murderer.

Detectives believe the attacker ran up the steep, leafy street, probably into Corporation Park.

Police today revealed that accountant Nazia was found in the conservatory at the rear of the townhouse after the emergency call at 1.34pm. She died at about 3pm.

Det Supt Gradwell said: "We would like to know from people in the area if see if they have noticed any disturbance in their gardens, such as theft of food or washing.

"The man who attacked Nazia and her sister Shazia would have been heavily blood-stained and could well have discarded his jacket.

"I would urge people especially in the local area to be on the lookout for a blood-stained jacket that may have been dumped in their gardens. If they find it, they should not touch it but should call the police straight away."

No crimes had so far been reported which could be linked to the incident, he said.

And he revealed that Zameer can not drive and would be carrying a maximum of £200 in cash. He has a limited grasp of English. He said it was clear that Zameer, who came to England in 2002 for his arranged marriage to Nazia, now had no intention of giving himself up.

Police think the stabbing may have followed a row over a failed reunion between the couple.

Det Supt Gradwell added: "From the moment the incident has happened no-one has come forward to say that they have seen him bolting off.

"Because of the area has high walls and lots of trees and bushes people wouldn't probably see someone running away from the incident."

Shazia is in a stable condition at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, he said. She raised the alarm by calling a family friend from a mobile phone, who then called the police.

Zameer is 5ft 10ins tall and of slim to medium build.

Anyone with information should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Officers are available to speak in Punjabi and Urdu .