The horrific Christmas churchyard murder that remains unsolved

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Thirty years ago today a young mother was the victim of one of the UK's most shocking murders. Tracey Mertens, who was living in Rochdale at the time, was doused in petrol and set alight in Eaton churchyard near Congleton on December 23rd 1994 − she sustained horrific burns to her body and died shortly after.

The 31-year suffered 95 percent burns. Despite being in a stricken state in hospital, police said she was "so brave" and told officers as much as she could before she died 12 hours later on Christmas Eve.

She had moved back to Rochdale from Birmingham with long-term boyfriend Joey Kavanagh just weeks earlier. Cheshire Police has launched extensive inquiries over the years, including arrests and forensic reviews - but no-one has been brought to justice over Tracey's death.

Now detectives are again are urging anyone with information which could crack the case to come forward Detective Inspector Nigel Reid said: "This week marks the 30th anniversary of Tracey’s death – a time that is understandably still very difficult for her family.