£10,000 reward to find Betty Yates' killer

A £10,000 reward has been offered for information over the murder of a retired teacher stabbed to death at her secluded Midland cottage.

A murder investigation was launched after Betty Yates, aged 77, was found dead with stab wounds to her neck at her home in Bewdley.

The mother-of-two had also been beaten with her walking stick when she was discovered by police on January 4.

Charity Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible. The report can be made anonymously.

Police have admitted Mrs Yates may have known her killer and say there was little sign the isolated £300,000 cottage had been broken into.

But they are still looking at the possibility she disturbed an intruder.

When officers found Mrs Yates' body at 9am on January 4 the doors had been locked and the blinds had been drawn. Her house keys and purse are still missing. The two letters that police have received are both typed and are believed to have been written by two different people, neither of whom are thought to be the killer.

Last week police lifted the cordon around Mrs Yates's cottage and opened up the mile-long track to the property.

And they received two anonymous letters claiming to reveal information about the tragedy - and are still appealing for the authors to come forward.

Crimestoppers regional manager for the West Midlands, Pauline Hadley, said: "This cowardly attack is especially cruel with a defenceless elderly lady being murdered in her own home.

"This is a shocking crime and someone knows who might have done this.

"On behalf of the devastated community we appeal for anyone with any information that might help find the murderer to contact Crimestoppers immediately.

"Tell us who is responsible so that we can bring peace for Mrs Yates friends and family."

Rewards can only be claimed for information that has been passed onto the charity's anonymous number 0800 555 111