New leads in 1978 murder

Detectives investigating a 25-year-old murder have said they are hopeful the case could still be solved after being given the names of possible suspects.

Norah Trott, a 63-year-old dress shop worker, was found beaten to death near her garage in Rochford, Essex, on 6 November 1978.

Investigations into the murder went quiet for years, but in July 2003 an anonymous letter was sent to Essex Police in Southend.

The letter, which suggested the murderer was a regular at a nearby pub, sparked a high profile appeal for new information.

Community feeling

Officers said they are now following up leads from the public and a retired police officer in which possible suspects were named.

Detective Superintendent Simon Coxall said: "The quality of the response has reinforced some of the lines of enquiry we are pursuing and given us some new information to consider.

"The fact there is still a strength of feeling among the local community helps me to remain optimistic that this crime can be solved."

All the information and the evidence from the case is also being fed by police into a computer system and will be reviewed by scientists.

Enquiries into the anonymous letter and a report of a similar attack in the area prior to the murder are continuing.