England ? Five slain prostitutes were mourned Thursday at a memorial service, and police identified one victim as a woman who told reporters days before her death that she was afraid of a suspected serial killer but needed money to support her heroin habit.

The naked body of Paula Clennell, 24, was found on the side of the road this week. Police said she died from “compression to the neck” but refused to elaborate. She was interviewed on television last week and said she was determined to get back on the street because she needed money for heroin. Days later she vanished.

Inside the hushed pews, the sober congregation interrupted their annual Christmas carol service to light candles for each of the dead women.

Police were combing through more than 5,500 calls to a hot line and some 1,000 e-mail tips.