Local residents have talked of their surprise at returning home from work last night to find the police investigation underway so close to their homes.

A man whose house sits immediately adjacent to the alleyway where the forensics officers are working said: "I was shocked. Police have not told me anything. I just heard it was about a murder from a long time ago."

But for some long-time residents of Broadgreen the possible connection between the police activity and convicted double murderer Christopher Halliwell comes as no surprise.

A local shopkeeper, who has lived and worked in the area since the 1980s, remembers the former taxi driver living at 96 Broad Street more than 15 years ago.

"I remember him," he said. "He was a normal guy, nothing strange really."

The shop owner, like others in the area, is now wondering why the sort of excavations now underway didn't happen years earlier around the time of Halliwell's initial arrest.

"The police never came round here," he said. "I don't remember that."

Another local man who was walking his dog past the police activity this morning said he too knew Halliwell when he lived in the area.

"I knew him," he said. "When my son was out, he used to have a key and take the dog for a walk.

"It's chilling, he used to come to my neighbour's barbecues."

Work is now well underway behind 96 Broad Street.

It is difficult to see what is happening beneath the white and blue forensic tent that has been erected to cover the scene but generators have been set up and the sound of power tools can be heard from inside.