POLICE investigating the unsolved murder of a 14-year-old girl more than 20 years ago received 27 calls after BBC1's Crimewatch programme featured the incident on Tuesday.

Some of them were from women concerned about the behaviour of their husbands or boyfriends when Lisa Hession was murdered, while one father even called to offer a £1,000 reward.

Detective Inspector Jeff Arnold said: "We would like to thank everyone who called and we will now be examining all the information we received. It is clear from last night's response that people were extremely touched by Lisa's death and the fact that her killer has still not been caught 20 years later.

"One man, whose daughter was killed a few years ago, even called to offer a £1000 reward to help with the investigation. Whilst we can't accept this we appreciate the sentiment and feel it demonstrates the depths of feeling that people have regarding this tragic case."

Police had hoped to uncover fresh evidence on the killing of Lisa, whose body was found dumped in an alleyway after being sexually assaulted and strangled.

The murder is one of 100 unsolved murders dating back more than 50 years which are being reopened by Greater Manchester Police's cold case review unit, Operation Genesis, which is based in Bolton.

Lisa's body was found in Rugby Road, Leigh, on Saturday, December 8, 1984.

She and her boyfriend had been at a friend's house for the evening and her mother had allowed her to stay out until 10.30pm that night

At 10.15pm, she left alone and began the 15-minute walk home to Bonneywell Road, Leigh. When she had not arrived home by 10.30pm, her mother Christine began to worry since Lisa was always punctual. She waited 15 minutes for Lisa to turn up and then went out looking for her.

Christine searched for Lisa three times and each time unknowingly passed the alleyway where her daughter's body lay out of sight.

Lisa was eventually discovered by a passer-by shortly before midnight just 500 yards from her home. Police are hoping DNA technology and forensic science advances can lead them to the killer.

The TV appeal was aimed at prompting people's memories in the hope of providing new clues.

Det Insp Arnold was the detective constable on duty that night and went to the scene. He is now leading the review of Lisa's murder and both he and Lisa's mother, now aged 59, appeared on the Crimewatch programme.

At the inquest into Lisa's death, Det Supt Terence Millard said: "She had been indecently assaulted but not raped.

"I believe Lisa was manhandled down the back alley, but I cannot determine whether the person responsible intended to assault or rape her.

"I think her attacker had a one-handed grip on her clothing while putting the other hand over her mouth."

A verdict on unlawful killing was returned.

Investigators working in the cold case review unit, based at Castle Street Police Station, The Haulgh, have revisited the scenes of some of the murders and are speaking to witnesses and suspects they interviewed at the time.

As revealed in the Bolton Evening News two weeks ago, the unit has been set up following the success of similar police squads in the US.

Other murders said to be on the list include the killing of 65-year-old Danny McFadden, who was beaten and set on fire at his Halliwell home in 1998; Shirley Leach, the grandmother who was sexually assaulted, strangled and mutilated at Bury bus interchange in 1994; and the killing of prostitutes Linda Donaldson and Maria Requena, who were butchered by a Ripper-style killer in Leigh and Lowton.

Det Insp Arnold said: "The murder of Lisa Hession was horrendous and demands a re-examination."

Anybody with any information about Lisa's murder is asked to call police on 0161 856 5960.

For more information see our Unsolved Murders pages