IN A dramatic new development, the family of murder victim Alfred Sandford is posting a big reward in a bid to bring the armed gang responsible for his death to justice. And Alfred's heartbroken daughter is making an emotional plea to Star readers for help in catching the gang who killed her father.

Patricia Leigh has spoken exclusively to the Star about the events leading up to her father's death after an armed raid at his home and the family's decision to put up a reward which they hope will lead to the arrest and conviction of the men Patricia says "killed" her father.

The family have contributed £5,000 to the reward and a further £2,500 has been contributed by Thatto Heath Labour Club, where Alfred - a former miner and pig farmer - was treasurer.

Emotionally drained and near to tears, Patrica recalled how the robbers burst in to her parents home - Grove House Farm - brutally pushing her 73-year-old mother, Inez over a settee.

She revealed how her father, who had only returned home from Whiston Hospital two days earlier after suffering two heart attacks, pleaded with the robbers to leave him and his wife of 51 years alone.

And she told of the family's torment at not being able to bury their father.

Patricia, the eldest of Alfred's five children, said: "Dad was well-known locally, he was certainly a larger than life character and the sympathy cards and flowers we are still receiving have only proved to us how popular he was.

"The people who did this to my mam and dad need to be caught. Four men burst in here on that Friday morning, one of those 'brave' men held my 72-year-old father and 73-year-old mother at gunpoint, whilst the other three searched the house. "We presume they thought that because dad had been in hospital for two weeks, it meant that he would have had two weeks takings from the Labour Club in the house, but that wasn't the case, and they got away with a meagre amount."

Patricia, 50, continued: "Since the robbery the family have tried to rally round and help each other, but it doesn't take away the pain and suffering. As each day goes by we can't help wondering when we can give dad a decent burial.

"Someone out there must know something, whether it be a girlfriend, a wife, or a friend of the men who did this. How would they feel if this happened to their dad? I appeal to anyone who knows anything to contact the police. We're offering a reward of £7,500 leading to the conviction of the men who killed my father, not solely for the sake of catching the people who did this, but for my mam. We want these men caught sooner rather than later for her sake, because it's destroying her."

Police are still appealing to anyone who may be able to help them with their inquiries into the robbery at Grove House Farm which took place at 11.30am on Friday, July 24. And they are interested in talking to anyone who may have seen the stolen red Ford Transit Van used by the robbers at Grove House Farm, or a stolen white Ford Sierra Estate abandoned and set alight by the robbers in Lacey Street, Thatto Heath.

ANYONE who can help the police with their inquiries should contact St Helens police on 0151 777 6050, or Crimestoppers (anonymously) on 0800 555 111.

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