POLICE in Australia were last night questioning a man in connection with the murder of teenage backpacker Caroline Stuttle.

The 19-year-old, from York, died after being flung from a 65ft bridge in the quiet Queensland town of Bundaberg, on Wednesday evening.

Police said the man was not under arrest but officers hoped he could provide information that could lead them to the killer.

A police spokesman said: "He is not a suspect but he has come forward with information which could prove vital. He is being questioned by detectives.

"We have received a lot of information in recent days but this man's information could prove to be the most significant."

A post-mortem examination has shown the cause of death was "head and spinal injuries due to, or as a consequence of, a fall from height, due to, or as a consequence of, probable assault."

The examination indicated that some minor injuries consistent with a struggle had been inflicted on Caroline before her death.

Det Insp Jeff Oliphant, the detective in charge of the investigation, said police had received 50 or 60 calls from people with information after an e-fit was issued of a man on the bridge.

The detective said: "We are concentrating our investigation on trying to identify this man, who was seen following the girl along the bridge just prior to her screams being heard."

Det Insp Oliphant said that a 30-strong team of detectives and uniformed officers was working on the murder inquiry, adding that he was "confident we will solve this case in the near future."

Caroline's mobile phone and handbag have not yet been recovered. Her sandals were found on the opposite bank of the river.