DETECTIVES from the Major Crime Team have spent the day continuing their search of an alleyway behind the former home of convicted double murderer Christopher Halliwell.

Specialist teams dressed head to toe in forensic suits drilled through concrete in the rear yards of two Broad Street properties to search for evidence that they believe could be hidden underground.

Officers could be seen carrying specialist tools and equipment in and out of the excavation site throughout the afternoon.

Shortly before 4pm, a removals van arrived at the scene and detectives began loading a number of wheelie bins into the back.

The bins were sealed and labelled according to their contents and the area of the property where they were found.

They were marked with yellow biohazard warning labels in a chilling indication of what detectives believe they may find as their investigation continues.

Police are not linking their ongoing operation in Broadgreen with Halliwell, but records show that the former taxi driver lived at 96 Broad Street between 1997 and 2001.

The 53-year-old has been convicted of murdering 20-year-old Becky Godden in January 2003 and 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan in March 2011.

After being found guilty of Miss Godden’s murder at Bristol Crown Court last year, a judge handed down a rare whole life tariff meaning he will never be released.

Following that decision, police said there was a "distinct possibility" that Halliwell was a serial killer, highlighting the eight-year gap between the murders.

Halliwell abducted office administrator Miss O'Callaghan as she walked home following a night out in Swindon and dumped her body in Uffington, Oxfordshire.

He then confessed to killing another woman, a prostitute he had picked up from Swindon, had sex with and strangled in January 2003.

The father-of-three led police to a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, where Miss Godden's remains were discovered.

Last year, it emerged that Halliwell had spoken of his desire to become a serial killer in 1985.

In a phone call from prison, he allegedly claimed that officers wished to interview him about eight murders.

Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court last year, Detective Superintendent Sean Memory said: "He talked candidly in 1985 about wanting to be a serial killer and I genuinely believe that's a distinct possibility."

Forensics teams will return to the scene tomorrow morning where there investigation will continue.

It is expected to take a further four days.