Cold case detectives investigating the unsolved murder of a Tonbridge pensioner are renewing an appeal for information more than 40 years on.

Esme Hoad, 85, was killed in 1982 after an intruder entered her home and repeatedly beat her around the head with a blunt instrument. She was also stabbed in the chest.

Crimestoppers are now offering a £20,000 reward for information which leads to Esme’s killer being found and convicted. The attack took place while she was living alone at her house in Havelock Road, Tonbridge.

Esme’s body was found by police on 8 December, after concerned neighbours reported she had not been seen for several days. Officers found no signs of forced entry but a substantial amount of blood was identified at the scene. A shoe mark was recovered with branding of the word ‘banana’ on the sole.

One of the lines of enquiry in the investigation surrounded an unknown couple, who were believed to have been regular visitors to the victim’s address and who travelled in a blue Mini Traveller.

They were thought to have had an interest in acquiring antiques and following the murder it was suspected several items may have been missing from Esme’s home. Media appeals at the time included efforts to locate items including porcelain figures of a young girl, and a tiger ready to pounce. A brass lamp was also suspected to be missing.

The couple and their car were never identified and an extensive investigation found no evidence to confirm they had anything to do with Esme’s murder, or indeed that any antique items had been stolen.

While more than four decades have passed since Esme’s death, the case has never been closed and Kent Police remains committed to identifying her killer and bringing them to justice.

Detective Inspector Lee Neiles said: ‘Esme Hoad was a much-loved member of her community and the brutality of her murder shocked the whole town. More than 40 years have passed, but time does not diminish our determination to find the person responsible. We believe someone out there knows what happened, and even the smallest piece of information could be the key to unlocking this case. If you have any information about this case, including about the couple linked to a blue Mini Traveller or the antiques suspected to be missing, please come forward. Your information could finally help us deliver justice for Esme and closure for those who cared about her.’