THIS is pensioner Joan Albert on her last day alive.The image from security cameras in the Capel St Mary Co-op shows the frail 79-year-old going about her everyday life at lunchtime on December 15.

THIS is pensioner Joan Albert on her last day alive.

The image from security cameras in the Capel St Mary Co-op shows the frail 79-year-old going about her everyday life at lunchtime on December 15.

Only a day later she was dead, stabbed to death in her own home.

Police today released the CCTV footage in the hope that it may prompt anyone who has yet to contact detectives with information to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Roy Lambert, who is leading the investigation, said today: "We have decided to release this footage in the hope that the live images of Mrs Albert, recorded the day before her death, may jog the memory of those people who saw something unusual that night – but who have yet to contact us – and will persuade them to get in touch.

"The pictures highlight the brutality of this crime. They show an elderly, frail woman going about her business in her local community. Less than 24 hours later her life was taken in a savage attack.

"It is now a month since we launched the murder enquiry and during that time we have received a positive response from the public to our appeal for information.

"However, we still want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area of the Boydlands between 9pm on Saturday, December 15 and 9am on Sunday, December 16."

Mrs Albert was found dead in the hall of her Boydlands home at about 10am on December 16. She had suffered multiple stab wounds, inflicted with a long bladed kitchen knife.

A murder incident room was set up to handle information coming in about the case and a mobile police pod set up in Capel St Mary.

Detectives are pleased with the response they have had to appeals for information.

Since the murder investigation was launched, detectives have received more than 360 calls from members of the public offering information, taken details of more than 700 people and taken 157 statements.

As such there are now more officers working on the case.

Det Supt Lambert said: "The enquiry team has been increased in line with the amount of information which has come in from the public and has been gathered by detectives.

"I would like to thank everyone who has come forward to offer information over the past month and remain extremely confident that we will bring this enquiry to a successful conclusion with the continuing support of the local community."

N Anyone with information about the murder is asked to contact the incident room on 01473 613777 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.