WILTSHIRE Police have hit back at the front page story of a national newspaper, calling it ‘highly speculative’ and ‘unhelpful’.

The Sunday Express ran a story about the police’s search of a pond in Ramsbury, which was linked to the murder of Sian O’Callaghan, that concluded on Saturday.

The story links the search to a number of other missing women, something the police have criticised. It includes comments from a supposed unnamed source within Wiltshire Police and speculates on the murders of Sian and Becky Godden-Edwards.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “We are disappointed that this article has been printed. “Although a ‘CID’ source has been quoted, the comments made by this individual are highly speculative and unhelpful to our investigations.

“The searches in the Ramsbury area have been completed as of 4.30pm on May 31 and the items found are now subject to review and testing. “Wiltshire Police have made no links to the missing women mentioned or any other cases at this stage.

“Detectives are in the early stages of the review and any forensic testing. Speculation such as this is unhelpful and can be potentially distressing for families who may have lost their loved ones.

“Wiltshire Police are committed to ensuring a thorough investigation and will maximise any evidential opportunities that are found. However, at this stage it is too early to make links to missing women or to speculate on why the items were found there.”

On Saturday police confirmed they had concluded the search of the pond in Ramsbury after several weeks at the site.

On May 15, detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) discovered a left boot, at the remote pond in Hill Drop Lane, which belonged to Sian.

The office worker was murdered in March 2011 after being abducted in Old Town by mini-cab driver Chris Halliwell, 50.

Police believe she was taken to Ramsbury on the night she was killed. The pond was then drained with officers hoping they might find Sian’s missing mobile phones and keys.

Following the two week search, police also recovered 60 items of clothing, which they don’t believe belonged to Sian. After discovering the boot, specialist divers were called to the scene finding her right boot and a single barrel shotgun.

All of the items found are now being forensically tested, although officers are not linking them to any other crime at this point.