Police say they are looking into potential new leads in the unsolved murder of a teenage girl 60 years ago.

Police say they are looking into potential new leads in the unsolved murder of a teenage girl 60 years ago.

Anne Noblett’s body was discovered in woodland near Whitwell on January 31, 1958, by dog walkers a month after she had gone missing.

She had last been seen on December 30, 1957, when she was returning home to Wheathampstead after attending a dance class with friends in Harpenden.

The 17-year-old had taken a bus home and got off at Cherry Tree Corner. It was the last time she was seen alive.

Anne was strangled, police believe within hours of her disappearance. Due to the condition of the body when it was found, police believe her body was held in cold storage before being moved to dense woodland in Rose Grove Woods - known locally as ‘Young’s Wood’ - in Horn Hill, Whitwell.

At the time, extensive searches were carried out involving hundreds of police officers, police dogs, the military and members of the public, who volunteered to help.

A number of people were questioned by officers, but nobody was ever charged.

Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit are still trying to find out what happened.

Detectives have reviewed her case a number of times and a special 60th anniversary appeal by detectives for information in December has now led to several people coming forward with possible leads.

A spokesman for Herts police said: “We have been contacted by six people following the anniversary appeal and, at this stage, our enquiries are ongoing to fully explore the information they have to share.”

Anne’s younger brother, Hugh, is still deeply affected by her death and, while police admit there is the possibility that Anne’s killer has died, Mick Flavin from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Investigation Review Team says an unsolved murder case is never closed.

Anyone with information, call Herts police on non-emergency number 101 or the incident room on 01707 355666. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact them via their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.