Police renew appeal over murder of Doncaster grandmother Nora Tait

Nora Tait was 69 when she was killed at her home in Doncaster

Police have appealed for an anonymous caller to come forward in a fresh attempt to solve the murder of a Doncaster grandmother 10 years ago.

Nora Tait, 69, of Stone Close Avenue in Hexthorpe, was bludgeoned to death at home on 12 October, 2005 shortly after buying fish and chips.

South Yorkshire Police described it as a "brutal attack for no apparent reason".

Officers particularly want to trace a man who contacted them in March.

Det Ch Insp Craig Robinson, now leading the investigation, said the man refused to leave his details saying he would call back, but never did.

Mrs Tait was killed in her home on Stone Close Avenue in Hexthorpe. Her fish and chip meal lay untouched on the dining room table when her body was found by a friend the next day

"I urge the caller to contact me as a matter of urgency," he said.

"Contact the police control room, my number will be given and I will speak to that person one-to-one."

Mr Robinson also appealed to the sender of a Christmas card in 2009, which read: "To the Nora Tait murder inquiry team, keep up the good work x . I might know a little something or nothing - I will be back in touch after Christmas."

The writer never got back in touch.

Mr Robinson said he also wanted to trace "the knock-off lad", a man selling food door-to-door in the area in the days leading up to Mrs Tait's death.

In 2006, police released an e-fit of "the knock-off lad", described as white, aged 20 to 30, and 5'5 to 5'8 tall. He spoke with a Yorkshire accent, smoked roll-ups and was possibly wearing a long khaki coat

He said the investigation had generated over 3,000 lines of inquiry with 600 witness statements and nine arrests over the last decade, but there had been insufficient evidence to bring any charges.

Mrs Tait's daughter, Jayne Watson, said: "Hearing your mother has been viciously attacked in her own home, in broad daylight stays with you and never fades with time.

Jayne Watson, said: "Our mum [third from left] enjoyed life, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends, and should have been enjoying them still."

"Every anniversary we pray that we'll hear someone has come forward with a vital piece of information, that someone will be brought to justice and we can have some closure.

"Hopefully this is the year where we can say 'bye mum' properly."

South Yorkshire Police will use new DNA techniques on samples recovered 10 years ago.

Crimestoppers have offered a £10,000 reward to help find Mrs Tait's killer.

Mrs Tait's son, Alan Watson, said: "It's been ten years of agony for our family. We don't want another ten years, we want it sorting once and for all."