Police appeal to callers in pensioner murder hunt

Police investigating the murder of Nottinghamshire pensioner Hilda Owen have appealed for anonymous callers to contact them again.

Mrs Owen, 71, was found dead in her home in West Hill in Skegby on March 1. The widow, who lived alone, had suffered serious head injuries as a result of a number of blows to the head with a blunt instrument.

A man was arrested in connection with her death on Friday, but was released on police bail on Saturday.

Nottinghamshire Police said that a number of new lines of enquiry into the murder are being followed up after officers spoke to more than 300 people in the area last week.

Superintendent Mark Pollock said: "There was a good response from the local public and detectives are now examining the information that has been passed on.

"In addition to what officers have been told by people on the street, detectives in the incident room have also received more than thirty calls from people wanting to provide information to the investigation.

"A number of people who called in wanted to remain anonymous - detectives would like to those people to ring back so they can speak to them in more detail. All conversations will be treated with the utmost confidence."

Supt Pollock also said that police were continuing to conduct a detailed forensic examination of Mrs Owen's home and were still trying to trace two youths seen at the rear of her property in the early hours of March 1.

He said: "We still need the public's help and we need them to come forward with any information they may have, no matter how trivial they may think it is."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on: 01623 483020 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.

(KMcA/SP)