A WOMAN walking her dog in a popular woody area near her Watford home was murdered on Tuesday evening.

The woman was killed by a single stab wound at about 6pm while walking with her dog in the sunshine along Munden Drive, also known as Ver Colne Valley Walk, off the A41.

Her body was found shortly after 6pm by another dog walker. Police have yet to formally identify her.

Police officers carried out door-to-door inquiries on Wednesday, and continued to scour the area all week. They have not found a murder weapon and say they have no clues as to a motive for the killing.

A description of a man police want to trace has been issued.

He is white, in his mid-20's, 5ft 7ins to 5ft 11ins tall, and of a slim build. He had mousy, brown hair and was clean shaven, with a thin, pointy face.

He was bare chested, carrying a T-shirt and was wearing jeans.

Munden Drive is popular with people walking their dogs, and police are keen to talk to anybody who used the path between 1pm and 7pm on Tuesday, or anyone who may have seen the man in Munden Drive or on the Meriden estate.

Detective Superintendent Les Bolland said: 'It is not important if people think they did not see anything of note. We still would like them to make contact.'

The police would also like to hear from the man, to eliminate him from their inquiries.

Neighbours have been shocked and scared by the killing, which came four weeks after two 11-year-old girls were sexually assaulted in nearby Little Mundens, and two weeks after a man exposed himself to two young girls at Garston Station in Whitwell Road, also on the Meriden estate.

Mrs Alice Compton, who lives near by, said: 'It is a great shock to have something like this happen.

'It is just so sad. With the other business with the two little girls last month, we are worried for our family.

'We have two granddaughters who live on Westlea Avenue. We used to take them walking in the Mundens but not now.'

Police are not linking the murder to the other incidents but the combined effect has been to spread alarm through the area.

Mrs Linda Norris, of Whitwell Road, said: 'If these attacks are by the same person, then we have a real psychopath out there but if they are not, we have three scary people, and that is horrifying as well.

'I am not letting my children go out at the moment. My 13-year-old son used to go fishing in Munden Woods but he is not allowed to do that now. I am not going out unless it is in the car and that is the general feeling around here.

'Everybody is scared by these horrifying things - it is all just too much to have three nasty incidents.'

The driveway of Meriden Infant and Junior School in Harvest End has been crowded at the end of the school day this week, with parents picking up children who would normally be allowed to walk home unaccompanied.

Those who knew the dead woman remembered a friendly person who always had time for people.

Residents living near Munden Drive are taking extra precautions following the incident.

Mrs Surinder Seyan, of Leander Gardens, which backs on to Munden Drive, said: 'It is worrying for me because my daughters and I sometimes come back here late.

'We will just be careful from now on. This is normally a nice area but something like this is very scary.'

Anybody with information is asked to contact the police incident room on 01707 354449.