Betty Yates stabbing: Police identify murder weapon

Betty Yates, 77, was a retired teacher

A knife found near a fatal stabbing in Worcestershire is believed to be the murder weapon, police have said.

Retired schoolteacher Betty Yates, 77, was found stabbed to death at her home near Bewdley on 4 January.

Other items have also been sent for forensic tests and police are still searching about 16 acres of land around Ms Yates's cottage.

West Mercia Police said they were also investigating new leads after more than 80 calls over the weekend.

Det Ch Insp Neil Jamieson, leading the investigation, said there had been an "excellent" response from the public, but urged anyone else with information to come forward.

"We are keen to piece together a detailed picture of Betty in terms of her daily routine, what she was like as a person and, in particular, her movements between 2 January and the following morning," he said.

Det Ch Insp Jamieson added that the scope of the search had been expanded around the riverside cottage.

A former colleague described Ms Yates as "very dynamic, very kind and an excellent teacher".

Jackie Cocken, the former headmistress of Foley First School in Streetly, said: "She was such a pleasant person, you can't believe someone would want to do such a thing."