Miner 'killed during strike row'

Keith Frogson died from head injuries

A former miner may have been murdered during a row over the miners' strike of 20 years ago, detectives said.

Keith Frogson, 62, was found dead by his home in Annesley Woodhouse, Notts.

He had been subjected to a frenzied attack after he left a local pub on 19 July. Police are hunting Robert Kelvin Boyer, 42, who has not been seen since.

Mr Boyer is believed to have broken the picket lines of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) during the national strike in 1984.

It is believed Mr Frogson was on strike when Mr Boyer, who was 22 at the time, carried on working.

Hiding in woods

Witnesses described how Mr Frogson was spotted having a blazing row with another man on the night of his death.

"They were both miners in 1984 during the strike," a Nottinghamshire Police spokeswoman said.

Robert Boyer went missing from his home two weeks ago

"We know that Mr Frogson was on strike at the time and Robert Boyer worked in the mines.

"We are looking for possible links between the two of them but we don't know whether they had any contact with each other at the time.

"It is possible that they could have got into a dispute that evening. That is a link between Robert Boyer and Keith Frogson."

Officers believe Mr Boyer could now be hiding in local woodland, where he was known to go hunting.

A post-mortem examination found that more than one sharp instrument was used in the attack on Mr Frogson.

Link with fire

Police have previously said that a crossbow found near to the scene could have been the murder weapon.

Det Ch Insp Russell Foster, of Nottinghamshire Police, said anyone who spots Mr Boyer should not approach him but should call 999.

Mr Boyer is described as white, about 5ft 9in and of slim build.

Police said he usually wears a baseball cap and dark clothing and may have a shaved head or very short hair.

Ten days after his death, Mr Frogson's house was found alight. Police are also investigating a possible link with the blaze and his murder.

A 37-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man have been arrested in connection with the murder and released on police bail pending further inquiries.