Alfred Swinscoe: BBC Crimewatch appeal over mystery of miner's death

Alfred Swinscoe went missing in early 1967 after drinking at a pub, which has since been converted into a house

The family of a miner whose remains were found more than 50 years after he went missing hope a BBC Crimewatch appeal will help solve the mystery over his death.

A murder inquiry was launched after Alfred Swinscoe's remains were found on farmland in Coxmoor Lane in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, in April.

The 54-year-old had last been seen in 1967.

His final movements have been reconstructed as part of the appeal.

Mr Swinscoe's grandson Russell Lowbridge told the programme: "My family have lived with this mystery for 57 years and we still don't have the answers we desperately need."

He said his uncle Gary, Mr Swinscoe's son, had been tormented by his disappearance and died, in 2012, not knowing what had happened to him.

Mr Lowbridge contacted detectives after they made a public appeal to try to identify the remains.

Russell Lowbridge, 60, pictured with Mr Swinscoe's daughter Julie, was four years old when his grandfather went missing

Nottinghamshire Police said officers were trying to build up a picture of Mr Swinscoe's life and past acquaintances.

He worked at Langton Colliery from the age of 14 as a cutter, who operated a machine that cut coal from the coalface, and was last seen at work on January 20, 1967.

The father-of-six was living in Pinxton, in Derbyshire, when he went missing and was last seen drinking in the Miners Arms in the village.

It is believed he was drinking with his two sons and friends on the night of his disappearance.

He was last seen at about 22:30 when he gave his son some money to buy a round. He then left to use the outside toilet but never returned.

Officers spent three weeks at the field earlier this year

Detectives believe he was killed and then buried in farmland about 4ft (1.2m) to 6ft (1.8m) deep.

A number of traumatic injuries were found on his skeletal remains, and further tests are being carried out to determine how he was killed, police said.

Det Insp Mel Crutchley, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are determined to find out what happened to Alfred and provide his family with the closure they desperately need.

"His killer left them with decades of unanswered questions about what happened to their loved one."

Mr Swinscoe is seen sitting on the step, pictured with Mr Lowbridge and Julie Swinscoe

She added: "We have been following several lines of inquiry since identifying the human remains as Alfred Swinscoe but we really need the public's help due to the amount of time that has passed since the murder and his body being found.

"We know that his killer or killers would have driven to the Coxmoor Lane site by vehicle. This is significant as in 1967 not many people had access to a car in the Pinxton community.

"We have spoken to a number of people who knew Alfred to build up a picture of his life before he died.

"However, after the colliery closed, we know many people will have left Pinxton and moved to other parts of the country and even overseas.

"These are the people we need to speak to who may have the vital information we need."