Police investigating the murder of Stephen Lawrence have been quizzed again on their handling of crucial exhibits in the case.

Gary Dobson and David Norris are on trial at the Old Bailey for the 1993 murder after new scientific techniques identified fibres linking their clothes with those of the teenager.

DC Linda Holden had initially been a family liaison officer to the Lawrences and visited their Plumstead home in April 1993.

Eight days later she was the exhibits officer in an early morning search of Dobson's Eltham home on May 7.

Dobson was arrested while Ms Holden seized items from his room including a gray and yellow jacket.

She told the court she wore gloves, the clothing was put in brown paper bags and entries made in an exhibit book.

In cross-examination Tim Roberts, for Dobson, asked her: "Did you think to yourself, just a minute, I've been to the Lawrence family just last week.

"It might not be a good idea for me to go to two different scenes."

She replied: "It was well over a week later and I didn't think there was any risk of contamination."

The bags were later taken to Bromley police station where they were sealed and signed off, the court heard.

They were then transported to Eltham police station and kept in a disused cell by Detective Constable Robert Crane.

Mr Crane said this was the same cell where Mr Lawrence's clothing had been kept, though by then those exhibits had gone to a police laboratory.

During its storage, Mr Lawrence's black jacket had been taken out of its packaging by Mr Crane, placed on the floor and photographed.

Mr Roberts questioned why items from a suspect were kept in the same room as those of a victim.

He said: "There were no rules at the time prohibiting this? Storage of items from different people in the same location."

Mr Crane replied: "In separate bags, yes."

Dobson and Norris deny murder.

The trial continues.