Una Crown.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of widow Una Crown say they are following up new leads as a result of information given to them by the public over the weekend.

Officers stopped motorists, cyclists and pedestrians near to the 86-year-old’s bungalow in Magazine Lane, Wisbech, on Saturday and Sunday to see if they remembered anything suspicious.

Mrs Crown’s body was discovered in her home at 10.45am last Sunday. She was last seen alive last Friday, however she spoke to a friend by telephone at about 5pm on the Saturday.

A post-mortem examination found she had died from stab wounds to her neck and chest. Her clothing was set on fire after her death in an apparent effort to hide her injuries and destroy evidence.

Det Chief Insp Jon Hutchinson said: “We stopped a number of people over the weekend to see if they remembered anything suspicious in the area around the time of Mrs Crown’s murder.

“As a result of the stops we have received some useful information and have a number of leads that we are now following up.

“This was a brutal murder of a defenceless elderly woman in her own home. I would urge people with any information which may help us find who is responsible to call police.”

A knife recovered near Magazine Lane on Friday morning is still being examined to see if it is linked to the killing.

Searches and house-to-house enquiries continued over the weekend and forensic work is ongoing at the house.

Anyone with any information should call the Major Crime Unit on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.