DETECTIVES are set to make a new plea for information to try to crack the unsolved murder of a Bolton man beaten to death 27 years ago.

Officers are expected to make a final plea during a new TV programme in the hope they can finally trap the killer of Tom Hewitt.

The 30-year-old was smashed across the head with an iron bar on September 7, 1974, while he worked in his garage in Bury.

Despite a massive investigation at the time, which spread to New Zealand, the murderer was never brought to justice.

The events leading to Mr Hewitt's death are now being reconstructed on Granada TV's Case Unsolved, which will be screened close to the anniversary of his murder.

Any friends or family of the Sharples man are being asked to contact the programme makers to help with the episode.

Mr Hewitt was found at 11.30am by the co-owner of his garage, Ian Cottrell.

He had been hit across the head several times with a blunt instrument, believed to be an iron bar.

The victim suffered serious head injuries and battled for his life in Salford Royal Infirmary, but died 24 hours later.

Detectives launched an investigation and immediately began searching for an "angry man", who had been seen twice in two weeks looking agitated at the Bright Street garage and asking for Mr Hewitt.

Police questioned all his customers and friends at his favourite pubs, the Swan Hotel, in Tottington Road, and Blighty's Club, in Farnworth, and visited people in Wales, Derby and Stoke.

Interpol became involved when police decided people who had migrated to New Zealand from Bury should be interviewed.

Detectives were initially puzzled about the motive, but suspected Mr Hewitt, said to be a ladies man, could have been attacked by a jealous husband or boyfriend.

This was always denied by his partner Sylvia Hewitt, who had lived with him at their semi-detached home in Rosedale Avenue for four years.

She was also the mother of their son Paul, who was aged two at the time.

The 28-year-old had changed her surname by deed poll and had been due to marry him weeks after the murder. She would have been his second wife.

The Case Unsolved programme is being screened on ITV on Tuesday, September 4.

Anyone who knew Mr Hewitt and would like to contribute to the programme should contact Steven Roberts on 0161 832 7211 ext 3583 or 07967 659495.