PART of Old Town came to a temporary standstill as crime scene investigators looking into the murder of Sian O’Callaghan collected evidence for the court case.

Almost three weeks after the body of the 22-year-old was removed from a field in Oxfordshire, specialist officers were in Old Town to take photographs of the now reopened Suju nightclub, the last place Sian was seen before her disappearance.

Police officers halted traffic and shut the road close to the back of the Co-Op, in the High Street.

The stoppage needed was to allow specialist Crime Scene Investigation officers to get a clear shot of the nightclub entrance with their camera.

CSI Chris Auld, based at Gablecross police station, said: “We’re just taking pictures of the High Street. It’s required as part of the investigation.

“The road closure is only temporary while we do our bits.

“It’s required as part of the case that’s put forward in court. It’s to demonstrate the locality for presentation in court.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We are closing the road for the investigation into Sian O’Callaghan and Becky Godden-Edwards. We are taking photos for evidence.

“There was one road closure. It’s Cricklade Road closed at the junction of Newport Street for 10 minutes.”

The High Street closure fell between at 11.50am and 12.30pm.

It took place 20 days after Sian’s body was found, and just four days after 47-year-old Chris Halliwell, the taxi driver charged with Sian’s murder, appeared in Bristol Crown Court by video link.

He is next due before the court on July 14.

After Sian’s death the nightclub became a makeshift shrine as large numbers of people left flowers and notes at its door.

These were then cleared and the club re-opened for business on March 26.

Yesterday, the Adver carried an emotional tribute to Becky Godden-Edwards, whose body was found and identified as part of the investigation into Sian’s murder.

Scores of residents also attended an event in Queens Park where balloons were released into the sky on Monday, a week after what would have been Becky’s 29th birthday.