Daughters of murdered widow want information.

THE daughters of a frail widow who was strangled in bed before her home was set on fire in an attempt to hide evidence have appealed for the public's help in catching their mother's killer. Ann Szary and Catherine Howard spoke out after 85-year-old Pat Thompson was found dead in bed in her burning Hartburn bungalow in Teesside by the fire service on Saturday night.

"Our mum was always so full of life and she was loved by everyone who knew her," Mrs Szary said.

"We'll truly miss her, she was the centre of our family. We can't understand why anybody would want to hurt her. Our lives will never be the same without her.

"She was frail and vulnerable and the thought of her frightened, defenceless and alone in her last moments is the most difficult part. If anyone has any information to help the investigation, please come forward."

Mrs Szary was accompanied by her sister Mrs Howard, who added: "They need to be caught. It's so terribly sad that there is somebody like that around. Other people need to be protected from him."

A neighbour at Emma Simpson Court, Hartburn, alerted the emergency services having seen smoke coming from Mrs Thompson's home.

Detective Superintendent Gordon Lang, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are following a number of leads but our inquiries remain focused on the property at Emma Simpson Court and I would urge anyone who may have seen anything, however insignificant they may think it is, to come forward and contact us."