Australian police searching for the killer of North Yorkshire backpacker Caroline Stuttle have begun DNA tests on men living in the area where her body was found.

Miss Stuttle, 19, from York, was staying with a British friend in the Queensland town of Bundaberg, 220 miles north of Brisbane, when her body was found under a 30ft bridge on April 10.

Some of her belongings were missing and police believe she was killed after being robbed.

Bundaberg CID launched the DNA test after receiving a DNA profile for a sample of saliva found on the bridge.

Senior Sergeant Terry Borland said they didn't know if the exercise would lead to a breakthrough.

''It's a matter of course. It's part of our investigation. It's something we had considered and we are doing it. Where it takes us is a matter of time.''

So far, 38 men have submitted DNA samples, taken in the form of a mouth swab, but police estimate that as many as 150 men live in the area.

Sgt Borland said they had begun DNA testing now, more than two months after Miss Stuttle's death, because it took time for the DNA analysis of the saliva sample to be completed and for the force to gather the resources to undertake the exercise.

He said: ''The case is progressing. There's plenty of work to still do and we've got a lot of inquiries to make.''

Although only men are being asked to volunteer DNA samples, he said they would not rule out asking women to volunteer.

No one has yet been arrested in connection with the case.