A manhunt underway after a woman’s body was found in a burnt-out car that was dumped in a lane near a golf club.

Police are still trying to identify the woman, believed to be in her 20s, but her cause of death has been established as smoke inhalation, suggesting she was alive when the car was torched in Rusper Road, Crawley.

Surrey and Sussex’s Major Crime Team have been working around the clock all weekend and have since arrested a 34-year-old woman on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, but are seeking 26-year-old Christopher Jeffrey-Shaw in connection with the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Karen Mizzi, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, who is leading the investigation, said: “We need to urgently trace Christopher Jeffrey-Shaw in connection with this murder inquiry.

“A young woman has died in horrific circumstances. If anyone has any knowledge of where this man is or may know the identity of the victim, please come forward.”

Firefighters were called to extinguish the car which had been abandoned in a lane which backs on to Ifield Golf and Country Club just after 2pm on Friday.

As they went about their duty, they made the grim discovery and the body was described to have suffered “extensive fire damage”.

DCI Mizzi added: “Also we would like to hear from anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously or the vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta, in Rusper Road, Ifield on Friday between 2pm and 3pm.”

Christopher Jeffrey-Shaw, from the Lewisham area of London, is described as 6’0”, of stocky build with dark hair, and had a stubbly goatee beard.

The 34-year-old woman from Dulwich, London, who was arrested on suspicion for conspiracy to murder, has been released on bail until March 30.

If you see Christopher Jeffrey-Shaw do not approach him. Phone Sussex police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Madeira or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Residents in fear of killer on the loose

Residents were last night worried there was a killer on the loose after a body was found in the boot of a burning car.

Mansion-laden Rusper Road, which is home to a number of £1 million plus houses, stood quiet apart from police activity at the weekend as specialist police officers worked round the clock on a murder investigation.

The car was dumped on a lane backing onto Ifield Golf and Country Club in one of the most desired residential roads in Crawley.

A family member of a key witness told The Argus a person was seen fleeing the scene, and she was worried they were still on the loose in Sussex.

Ann Grantham, who lives just yards away from where the body was found on Friday, said: “I was out for the day, but when I came back around teatime there were a lot of police cars and things outside.

“It was quite a shocking sight to come back to.

“I’ve been living here since 1955, and there’s never been anything like this here.

“I’ve seen more traffic here from this incident than I’ve seen down this road since I’ve been here.”

Just metres away from the burnt out car is the coveted Ifield Golf and Country Club course, where a year’s membership will set a player back £1,250.

Officials from the club were unavailable for comment yesterday, but golfers heading out for their Sunday morning round were in disbelief that a murder investigation had been launched so close to where they tee off.

One said: “This is a posh club – I can’t believe it.”

Locals believed whoever had abandoned the car must have known the area because the lane branches off into a number of smaller footpaths, giving a perpetrator a number of options to flee the scene.

Rosemary Dawborn has lived in Rusper Road for more than 50 years with husband Richard and she was puzzled by the police activity.

She said: “There was a helicopter circling for a long, long time in the morning.

“Over the years there have been the odd incidents, but nothing as drastic as this.

“I heard the helicopter and quite a few police cars went by making a fair bit of noise, but I just thought it might have been vandals or something like that.

“It’s very sad.”

Mr Dawborn said: “West Ifield used to have a bit of a name for itself for baddies, but this is terrible.

“We had someone try to break into our shed last week.

“They removed the glass panel and placed it carefully on the floor, then they took the bulbs out of the security lights and placed them neatly on the floor but ended up not stealing anything.

“So that’s the calibre of crime we usually have around here – real gentlemen rogues.”

The tight community along the grand, tree-lined road has been shaken by the incident.

Alan Falkner, 83, of Rusper Road said: “I’ve been living here 30 years, and the usual cause of death is old age.

“We’re a very tight-knit community around here, I have keys for five of my neighbours and we all help each other out, so it’s a bit of a shock.

“Everyone knows each other quite well, and we’re friendly with people all the way up the road.”