Police find phone and laptop of murdered schoolgirl Becky Watts

The belongings, which also included a tablet computer, had been reported missing when the 16-year-old first disappeared.

Police said specialist forensic examinations are likely to continue for several weeks to determine the full circumstances surrounding her death.

Detective Superintendent Liz Tunks said: "There is likely to be ongoing police activity at properties in St George and Barton Hill for the next couple of weeks as part of our investigation into the murder of Becky Watts.

"There are specific forensic examinations which we need to complete to help establish exactly what happened to Becky.

"We’d like to reassure the local community that our primary aim is to conduct a meticulous and exhaustive inquiry into Becky’s death and even though there have been charges brought in this case, it continues to be an active investigation."

A huge search operation was launched after the schoolgirl, described as "beautiful" and "wonderful" by her family, vanished from her home in Bristol on February 19.

The youngster's body parts were later discovered at a house in Barton Hill on March 2.

Her stepbrother Nathan Matthews, 28, was arrested and later appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with her murder.

His girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21, has been charged with perverting the course of justice by lying to police to help Matthews evade detection.

Karl Demetrius, 29, Donovan Demetrius, also 29, Jaydene Parsons, 23, and James Ireland, 23, have been charged with assisting an offender by helping to dispose and hide Becky's body parts.

All six defendants, who remain in police custody, will next appear before Bristol Crown Court for a hearing on March 26.

Bouquets, teddies and cards have been left at Becky's family home while mourners have attended churches in Bristol to pay their respects.

After her body parts were found, the teenager's mother Tania, grandmother Pat and brother Daniel Watts released a joint statement.

It read: "We are devastated to be told of this latest development.

"We are at an utter loss to understand why anyone would want to hurt our beautiful Becky in such a brutal way."

Becky's father Darren Galsworthy and step-mother Anjie said in a separate statement the news about their "dear daughter" was "too much to bear".

They said: "We have the support of a good family network to help us in these challenging times.

"We would ask that you treat Becky with the due reverence and allow us to come to terms with our grief in private."

Mr and Mrs Galsworthy were joined by hundreds of people as they released hundreds of multi-coloured balloons into the sky in St George Wheel Park.

The balloon release was publicised by a Facebook community page set-up to honour the memory of the Bristol schoolgirl.

Mr Galsworthy was photographed crying and hugging friends and family as dozens of coloured balloons jostled in the overcast sky.

Hundreds of people have paid personal tributes to the murdered teenager through the Facebook page.

"This beautiful girl will never be forgotten loved by everyone even us who didn't know her," one user wrote.

Another added: "Forever in bristols (sic) heart fly high becky watts (sic) what a beautiful sight it was x".

Online campaigns and public support has already raised over £10,000 towards Becky's funeral.