MURDER victim Ellen Bootle, 92, was killed for just £64, police revealed today.

She tried to hang on to her handbag, but her killer wrenched it from her in a "cowardly and violent" attack.

As reported in last night's BEN, spinster Miss Bootle died from her injuries yesterday in the Royal Preston Hospital.

Detectives immediately launched a murder hunt.

Today Det Supt Peter Ellis told a press conference: "This is a tragic loss of life. She has lived through two World Wars and I find it incredibly sad that this lady should have lost her life for just £64.

"I can only describe her attacker as a parasite. This person is at large in the community and may have confided in someone. Please can you get in touch with the police."

Miss Bootle, of Endsleigh Gardens, was found at 11.20am last Thursday collapsed on Bond Street. Minutes before she had collected her pension of £64.74 at the nearby post office. Her handbag and purse were missing. A post mortem revealed she had died from head injuries consistent with her being the victim of a handbag snatch by a mugger.

Det Supt Peter Ellis said her injuries included a fractured forehead, fractured skull, broken right arm, broken right thigh and her teeth had been knocked out.

He said: "I now believe from forensic inquiries that she came by her injuries as a result of a cowardly and violent attack.

"She was an independent woman who did her own shopping. She was a creature of habit and on Thursday regularly walked to the post office to collect her pension. We know she collected her pension at 11.14am."

Miss Bootle was wearing a beige gaberdine three quarter length rain coat and flat, grey lace-up shoes. Police are anxious to speak to anyone who saw her. Det Supt Ellis said police had not yet recovered Miss Bootle's bag and appealed to people to check their back gardens and yards.

He said: "I believe that the person or persons responsible may well have confided in some other person and I would ask that person to ring me in confidence and identify who was responsible."

The incident room number is 0161 856 7255 orring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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