THE major police operation at the former home of double murderer Christopher Halliwell has come to an end with no significant evidence found.

Specialist forensics teams have been working in an alleyway behind Broad Street since last Monday.

The search was initially expected to last five days but was extended at the end of last week.

This morning officers completed their work and will now begin withdrawing from the site.

Christopher Halliwell, 53, murdered Becky Godden, 20, in January 2003 and Sian O'Callaghan, 22, in March 2011.

He was handed a rare whole-life order - meaning he will never be released - at Bristol Crown Court in 2016 after being convicted of Miss Godden's murder.

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

Today Detective Chief Inspector Jeremy Carter, of the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “We have meticulously explored the intelligence provided to us and have not discovered any items of significant interest as a result of the search activity undertaken.

“As previously mentioned, this activity was carried out following intelligence received as part of an ongoing investigation by the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team.

"This investigation will continue, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further.

“We would like to thank the residents of the properties who have no involvement in the investigation.

"The work carried out within the gardens of their homes has no doubt been disruptive and we thank them for their patience and understanding, along with other members of the public who have been inconvenienced by the police activity.

“We would also like to thank the wider community for their understanding during this time."

Wiltshire Police have refused to confirm whether there was a link between Halliwell, who is serving a whole life term for the murder of two Swindon women, and almost two weeks of intensive activity behind the home where he lived between 1997 and 2001.

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

When arrested he confessed to killing Miss Godden, who he strangled in January 2003, leading police to a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, where her 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."