Detectives pleased at new information received as part of murder investigation

Detectives investigating the 'brutal and unnecessary' murder of a Rotherham pensioner are following up new leads.

They received new information after the death of 80-year-old Tommy Ward was featured on Crimewatch.

To coincide with the appeal detectives also returned to Maltby, where Tommy lived, to speak to local people on the streets.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Short, leading the murder probe, said new information has been received.

"Nobody has been arrested yet since the Crimewatch appeal and day of action in Maltby but we got a very, very positive response," she said.

"People were speaking to us on the streets and a lot of information came forward that we did not have, so the team is progressing all that."

She said relatives of former soldier Tommy, who was found seriously injured in his home in Salisbury Road last October, are being kept informed of the progress of the probe.

The OAP suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs and shattered jaw in the attack and died in a nursing home five months later.

He was so badly injured he was never able to tell South Yorkshire Police what happened to him.

Tommy's £30,000 life savings were stolen from his home.

DCI Short said: "It was a brutal and unnecessary attack which after five months led to Mr Ward's death.

"His family were and still are absolutely devastated at what happened and they need some answers."

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 55511.