Trainers link to pensioner murder

Footprints from Nike trainers were found at Elsie Hughes' home

Police investigating the murder of a 90-year-old widow three years ago have released photos of what they believe are the killer's footwear.

Elsie Hughes died after being attacked at her home in Abermorddu, near Wrexham, in September 2005.

Officers are looking for white Nike training shoes between sizes 7 to 9.

Det Ch Insp Neil Anderson said: "We believe the time is now right to go public with the details of these shoes."

The information was revealed on the third anniversary of the attack on Mrs Hughes.

Det Ch Insp Anderson added: "It is quite an unusual line of inquiry, however we believe there is somebody out there who can give us some information about the killer.

"I'm asking people to think back to the time and ask themselves if they knew someone with a similar training shoe or if they bought a pair of trainers as a present for someone.

No-one has been charged with Elsie Hughes' murder

"I'm particularly keen to speak to people who may have noticed that that the trainers suddenly went missing around the time of Elsie's death."

Asked if it might be more realistic for people to remember a pair of trainers if the information had been available two or three years ago, Det Ch Insp Anderson replied: "Absolutely, and that's the balance we have to make with any such inquiry."

Police said footprints from Nike Court Tradition training shoes were found at Elsie's Hughes' home, and are believed to have been left by the murderer.

They said the colour of the Nike emblem and the wording may have been different to the pair in their picture.

Mrs Hughes died on 9 September 2005, the day after she was attacked at her Abermorddu home by someone who stole £200.

In the aftermath of her murder, her family released a statement appealing for help from the public.

It said: "We find it difficult to believe that anybody would shelter the person responsible for such an unnecessary and horrifying attack."

Last year, a £100,000 reward for information was offered and this is still available,

There were 17 officers working on the operation then, but police said that has now been scaled down to four or five.