The public was invited to remember and pay tribute to murdered Joanna Yeates today after a book of condolence, supported by her family, was opened in her memory.

The snow-covered body of the 25-year-old landscape architect was found two weeks ago, on Christmas morning, after she had been missing from her Bristol home for eight days.

Her disappearance and murder has shocked the nation and messages of condolence to her family and friends have poured in from across the country.

The book of condolence has been opened at a church near Miss Yeates's flat in the upmarket Clifton area for people to send their thoughts and prayers to her family.

The Rev Wayne Massey, associate vicar of Christ Church Clifton, said: ''From the start we have wanted to support both Jo's family and friends and also the community here.

''We have been in communication with Jo's family through the police liaison officer and opening a book of condolence is with their support.

''It is our hope that, in some small measure, it allows the people of Clifton and wider afield to record their messages of love and support and care for Jo's family and friends at this time.

''I hope it is some small measure of comfort. You can never truly get over the loss of a loved one and Jo's death was truly tragic, but our hope is that, if people write down their messages of support, it will bring some small measure of light into what must have been a really dark place for the family now.

''I think, in equal measure, people in the community are shocked and saddened. You don't expect something like this on your doorstep in life and you certainly don't expect it at Christmas as well.

''People have been shocked and saddened and want to do all they can to help the police and send their love to the family.''

Last Sunday prayers were said at Christ Church for Miss Yeates's family and friends, police and her landlord, Chris Jefferies - the only person arrested so far in the inquiry.

The 65-year-old former Clifton College teacher was held on suspicion of murder and detained for three days of questioning before he was bailed pending further inquiries.

A massive police investigation was launched after Miss Yeates's boyfriend, Greg Reardon, 27, returned to Bristol from a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield on December 19 and reported her missing. Her body was found six days later in Failand, North Somerset. She had been strangled.

Police have said there was no evidence Miss Yeates had been sexually assaulted but they have not ruled out a sexual motive.

Officers are investigating whether she could have been strangled with her own ski sock, which her killer might then have kept as a trophy.

Her body was found with one of her grey, knee-length socks missing, and detectives believe the garment may hold the key to solving her murder.

She was not wearing her coat or boots either but those items were recovered from her flat.

The killer or killers may have tried to put Miss Yeates's body over a wall into a neighbouring quarry but instead left her on the grass verge in Longwood Lane.

Last night, officers retraced Miss Yeates's last-known steps on what was the three-week anniversary of her disappearance.

Plain clothes and uniformed officers launched a high-profile operation in a bid to speak to anyone who may have seen her as she made her way home on the evening of December 17.

They spoke to customers in the pub where she went for a Christmas drink, talked to people in the streets close to her Canynge Road flat and stopped cars where her body was found - just three miles from her home.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, who is leading the murder investigation, said: ''We are hoping the high-profile activity will jog people's memories and may prompt more members of the public to contact us.

''Were you in Bristol on the night of Jo's disappearance? You may have a valuable piece of information which could help with our inquiry.

''You may think that something you may have seen or heard is insignificant but let us make that decision.

''We continue to work tirelessly to catch and bring to justice whoever killed Jo and thank the public for the overwhelming response we have already received.''

The Sun newspaper has offered a £50,000 reward for finding her killer, in addition to the £10,000 already offered by Crimestoppers.

Police have also searched around 40 drains in the streets surrounding Miss Yeates's home and also moved a car blocking a drain to examine that as well.

An information appeal placed on Facebook has been viewed nearly 400,000 times since Tuesday, and hundreds of people have also clicked through to the police's contact form.

There have also been more than 70,000 views of the appeal on the Avon and Somerset Police website and more than 120,000 people have watched CCTV of Miss Yeates placed on YouTube.

Meanwhile, an appeal is to be made to football fans today for information to help catch Jo's killer.

Players of Bristol City Football Club - including former England goalkeeper David James - will wear special T-shirts, and messages are to be relayed over the club's public address system to supporters ahead of their FA Cup third round clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

The players will warm-up wearing white T-shirts publicising a £50,000 reward offered by The Sun newspaper to bring the 25-year-old's killer to justice.

The T-shirts show Miss Yeates's face and a contact number for people to call to pass on any information about her murder.

Bristol City chairman Steve Landsdown said: ''When something like this happens in the heart of the community, it's important everyone pulls together to help.

''We will help the police and The Sun today in spreading the message of the £50,000 reward and hope information will be forthcoming that leads to this case being solved.''

Miss Yeates's parents, David, 63, and Theresa, 58, welcomed the newspaper's reward.

They told The Sun today: ''We hope that the reward will encourage someone to come forward and talk to the police if they have not already done so.

''As a family we need answers and someone out there may have them.''

Posters have gone up outside the Ram pub, where Miss Yeates enjoyed Christmas drinks with work colleagues, and also along her route home.

Another was placed outside the Tesco Express store in Clifton village and outside her flat in Canynge Road.

• Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Braid incident room on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.