Police investigating Betty Yates murder keen to trace two men

Both were seen by walkers during mid-afternoon on Bank Holiday Monday, 2 January, at different times and locations in the area between the Riverside Caravan Park and Riverscroft cottage, where Mrs Yates was stabbed to death.

Detectives are keen to trace the men to eliminate them from their inquiries after the sightings were phoned in to the Major Incident Room at Stourport following appeals made by Mrs Yates's family last week.

One of the men was seen by a couple walking with a group near Painsmore Cottage. He was in woodland and was wearing a baggy, cherry red, waterproof style coat with a hood which was down. He was white, described as in his late 20s to early 30s, about 5 ft 10 inches in height, of medium build with brown hair. He was also wearing dark trousers.

The other man was seen by a different couple walking alone on a track off the riverside near the old railway line. He was also white and described as in mid to late 40s, pale faced and of medium build and clean shaven with short brown hair. He was wearing a plain, light coloured, three quarter length coat with a single row of buttons. He was also wearing dark trousers and shoes.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, who is leading the murder hunt, said: "These are new sightings of people who were in the relevant area on Bank Holiday Monday who have not yet come forward following our appeals and we need to trace them if only to eliminate them from our inquiries.

"I would ask them to get in touch with us or anyone who recognises them from these descriptions to call us.

"It is important that we know about anyone who was in that area between Dowles Road and the riverside during the afternoon and evening of that Bank Holiday Monday and establish what they were doing there.

"From the information we are continuing to receive it is apparent that there were other people around there who we have yet to identify. For instance we believe there were cyclists travelling north on the riverside path between Bewdley and Arley that afternoon and we need to speak to them in case they saw something that could help the investigation.

"We also need to contact any anglers, including members of Kidderminster and District Angling Association, who may have been using that stretch of the river.

"I would also stress that we have yet to hear from anyone who was at Betty Yates's cottage between when she returned from visiting relatives on December 28, her birthday, and 2 January when we believe she was killed. If you visited Riverscroft between those dates then please come forward."

DCI Jamieson said that the investigation was still in full swing with more than 60 detectives and other officers working on the case.

Around 30 calls with fresh information have been received since an appeal by Mrs Yates's son and daughter last week (30 January). Some of those have been made direct to the Major Incident Room and others anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers which has offered a reward of up to £10,000 for anyone contacting them with information leading to arrest and conviction of the killer or killers.

Police are continuing to study hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and visit friends and associates of Mrs Yates including members of the various groups and organisations she was involved with. Fresh searches have also taken place on land around and near Riverscroft.

DCI Jamieson added: "It is now more than a month since Betty Yates was found murdered but I can assure people that we are doing absolutely everything that can be done to identify the person or people responsible. It is a massive inquiry but no resource is being spared and we will continue until Betty's killer is caught."

A man arrested last Thursday (2 February) and later released after he was questioned in connection with the murder remains on police bail.

Anyone with information should contact the Major Incident Room at Stourport on 0300 333 3000 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.