JUST a fraction of the more than 4000 men asked to provide voluntary DNA samples to help catch the killer of model Sally Anne Bowman did so yesterday.

Detectives investigating the murder took samples from 114 men on the first day of testing, in what is one of the biggest mass DNA screenings ever held in Britatin.

Last week officers sent letters to men living in the South Croydon area asking them to provide samples to help eliminate them from the investigation.

Miss Bowman, 18, was found stabbed to death outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, South Croydon, last September. Her killer sexually assaulted and repeatedly bit her dead body.

It's believed she was attacked between 4.15am and 4.30am after being dropped home by a former boyfriend, who has been eliminated from the inquiry.

Her body was found on the driveway of her home.

Detective chief inspector Stuart Cundy said: "We are making this request to local men because it is strongly believed that the man responsible for the murder of Sally Anne Bowman either lives in South Croydon or has strong links to the local area.

"We have forensic evidence that will ultimately enable us to identify the man responsible.

"The provision of a simple DNA test will quickly eliminate men as possible suspects."

The DNA samples will only be used for this murder investigation and will not be searched against other unsolved crimes.

Men who live or visit the south Croydon area, who are white or light skinned and were born between 1965 and 1985 were asked to voluntarily provide their DNA.

A temporary police office has been set up at Brighton Road Baptist Church, South Croydon, and will remain open until Sunday, March 12 from 7am to 10pm.

Men attending should bring two forms of identification, their photo driving licence or passport and one other which shows their current address.

Police say there is no need to make an appointment, but they must not have consumed any coffee, food or sweets and should not have smoked for 20 minutes prior to the sample being taken.