POLICE hunting the killer of Betty Yates at Bewdley today issued a description of clothing she was wearing and her car, in a fresh appeal for information to trace her movements before she was found murdered.

Detectives are still trying to establish exactly when the 77-year-old retired schoolteacher was murdered at her riverside cottage off Dowles Road.

Police want to speak to anyone who may have seen her between the afternoon of Monday, January 2, when she visited friends in the Bewdley area and the morning of Wednesday January 4, when she was found stabbed to death at her home, Riverscroft.

Of particular interest to detectives is the period between 4pm on Monday and 10am the following morning.

When last seen alive Mrs Yates, who was 5ft 7ins in height with short, grey hair, was wearing a distinctive hip-length, multicoloured jacket which had a vertically striped pattern in dark red, olive green and grey.

The jacket had full sleeves and a collar but no hood. She was also wearing a dark coloured jumper, dark trousers, and carrying a black leather purse with key wallet attachment.

She was driving her silver Skoda Fabia.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, who is leading the murder investigation, said today: "Betty was a much-loved pillar of the community and her death has shocked everyone. We are extremely grateful and would like to thank those members of the public who have come forward with information. The response has been excellent and has generated a number of new lines of inquiry.

"However it is vital we hear from anyone we have not yet spoken to who knows anything at all about Betty's movements and saw her between Monday afternoon and the following morning. The smallest detail could help us put together the jigsaw."

DCI Jamieson said that since the initial appeal following the launch of the murder inquiry around 100 people had called or contacted police and every bit of information was being followed up.

He added: "Such a thorough investigation takes time but I can assure people that this is a dynamic and active inquiry and we are fully committed to catching the person or people responsible for this horrendous crime as quickly as possible.

"We now have more than 50 officers and staff working on this inquiry, including search teams who are still scouring the area around the cottage, forensic specialists and officers still making house-to-house inquiries. The one thing they all have in common is a determination to track down the killer and we will not rest until we have achieved that.

"We understand the impact this has had had on the community but we need to stress that such crimes are exceedingly rare, especially in a place like Bewdley. High visibility reassurance patrols have been added the already significant police presence in and around the town and anyone with specific concerns should contact the Local Policing Team.

"Anyone with information should call the Major Incident Room at Stourport Police Station on 0300 333 3000, or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."