DETECTIVES will tonight retrace the footsteps of a 76-year-old grandmother in the final minutes of her life.

Officers will walk the two alternative routes Ellen Crank may have taken back to her home after a game of bingo last Friday night.

A violent death awaited her. She was stabbed to death in the kitchen of her house in Kingscourt Avenue, Brownlow Fold. Her body was discovered by a neighbour two days later.

On the night of her murder, Mrs Crank had celebrated her birthday -- which was the day before -- with her friends at a bingo session at the Victory Community Centre in Chorley Old Road.

Officers who are attempting to trace her movements on the night she died are still unsure just which way she walked home.

It is believed the pensioner may have walked along Chorley Old Road, before turning on to Ivy Road and then into Kingscourt Avenue.

Alternatively, she may have taken a route along a side street to Oxford Grove, into Hatfield Road, through the fields to Valletts Lane, left into Sunnybank Road, across Keighley Street and into Kingscourt Avenue.

Tonight detectives will talk to passers-by on both routes in a bid to determine her route. Police believe Mrs Crank was possibly carrying a Morrisons' plastic bag on that night.

Officers will also be putting up posters and handing out leaflets in an appeal for information that could help them to track down her killer.

Det Supt Simon Barraclough, the man leading the hunt, said: "It is vital that anyone with information comes forward. I can reassure people that their calls will be treated in confidence."

The widow had taken home-made cakes and sandwiches to the community centre on Chorley Old Road at around 6pm last Friday.

Mrs Crank played bingo until about 8pm before walking the short distance home.

She was seen at her house by a neighbour at around 9pm, which was the last sighting of her. Her friend, Joyce Smith, discovered Mrs Crank's body at 1.45pm on Sunday.

A post mortem examination revealed she died from multiple stab wounds.

Mrs Crank has a 45-year-old son Stanley who lives in Cross Street, Bolton. Her three grandchildren, a 17-year-old boy and two girls aged 15 and 13, now live in Australia.

She had been a widow for almost eight years after nursing her husband through a long illness.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0161 856 5153 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.