POLICE hunting the person who murdered Janet Murgatroyd have vowed to catch her killer on the third anniversary of her death this week.

The promise, from murder detectives, comes as police continue to hunt for a stalker seen tracking women walking along the same route Janet took before she died.

A number of women have contacted police complaining that they are being followed by a man along Fishergate Hill, where Janet was last seen alive on June 15, 1996.

Police have not yet established a link between recent events and Janet's death, but they are keen to catch the stalker before other women are targeted.

A 20-year-old woman recently noticed she was being followed, just 300 yards from where Janet's battered body was found in the River Ribble.

A man has been spotted by closed circuit television cameras approaching several women, asking if he can walk them home.

Detective Sergeant Andy Dixon, of Preston Police, said: "These women have been very frightened because they have been followed.

"We are concerned about the behaviour of this man, but if he does have good intentions, then we would like him to come forward."

Meanwhile, murder detectives still believe they will catch Janet's killer, despite the length of time elapsed since her death.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Kennedy is now heading the investigation.

He said: "The search for Janet's killer is still on-going and will remain that way until we catch the person responsible.

"Our determination has not diminished."

Janet's mother Mary said: "I am still sad about the death, but I cannot live in the past and time goes on.

"I just hope her killer can be caught."

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