A FRESH appeal to solve a 27-year-old Bury murder has failed to uncover new evidence.

Tom Hewitt was struck across the head with an iron bar while working in his garage at Bright Street, Bury on 7 September 1974. He later died in hospital from severe head injuries.

Granada TV featured the unsolved crime last month as part of its "Case Unsolved" series, and reconstructed his last hours alive.

His 34-year-old son Paul Hewitt, who lives in Nottingham, hoped the programme would trigger someone's memory or prick their conscience in a bid to track down his father's killer.

Bury CID received some calls giving information after the screening, but no significant new leads emerged, leaving the death of 30-year-old Mr Hewitt a mystery.

The police search at the time of the murder spread to New Zealand and also involved Interpol.

The programme included footage of Paul visiting his father's grave in Astley Bridge and an interview with Jim Paterson, the former Detective Sergeant in charge of the investigation.

Paul said: "I'm still hopeful about the killer being found. I spoke to Bury Police after the programme went out and they said there had been some phone calls but nothing substantial to go on."

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "There were a few phone calls following the programme, but only with information we already had."