DETAILS of the clothing worn Betty Yates in the final hours before her brutal murder have been released by police in a fresh appeal for information.

Officers have today issued this picture of the brightly coloured jacket the 77-year-old’s was wearing before she was found stabbed at her riverside cottage on the outskirts of Bewdley on the morning of Wednesday, January 4.

The retired teacher, who was 5ft 7ins tall with short, grey hair, was also wearing a dark coloured jumper, dark trousers, and carrying a black leather purse with key wallet attachment when she was last seen alive. She was driving her silver Skoda Fabia.

Detectives 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 to morning of Wednesday, January 4.

Officers are particularly interested in the period between 4pm on Monday and 10am the following morning.

DCI Neil Jamieson, who is leading the murder investigation, said: “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.”

About 100 people have contacted police since the launch of the murder inquiry and officers are following up each piece of information.

DCI Jamieson 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 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 ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.