Car keys clue to 13-year-old unsolved mystery

Police searching a motorway verge where the bones of a young woman were found, have dis-covered car keys dating back to 1996 - the year she went missing.

Melanie Hall, 25, was last seen at a nightclub in Bath 13 years ago, but this month her bones were finally found "dumped like garbage" beside the M5 near Bristol.

The remains were discovered by a workman clearing vegetation, beneath several black bin bags and police immediately sealed off the scene.

Today Avon and Somerset police released an image of a set of car keys which date back to 1996 - the year Ms Hall, a hospital clerical worker, disappeared.

The force wants to hear from anyone with information about the three keys, described as Ford car keys, found close to the sliproad in South Gloucestershire.

Among them is a red master 'programming' vehicle key, and two black vehicle keys and black tag with "T144213" on them.

Last night Detective Superint-endent Mike Courtiour - who is leading the investigation - ap-pealed for information on BBC's Crimewatch.

More than 200 calls have been received by detectives working in the incident room, he revealed.

These are now being followed up and Detective Supt Courtiour confirmed there had been "some useful information" provided.

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Melanie's murderer has been increased to up to £20,000, he added.

Ms Hall was last seen alive in Cadillacs nightclub in Bath, on June 9, 1996.

At a press conference earlier this month her parents Pat and Steve Hall spoke of their "untold anguish" after officers confirmed that bones found beneath five bags were those of their daughter. Speaking at Bath Police Station Mr Hall, 65, an ex-chairman of Bath City said he needed know how his "vibrant" daughter became a "bag of bones".

Mr Hall, from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire said the killer was probably watching and urged the public to help.

He said: "People out there know, they've lived with that secret for 13 years - now I'm appealing for the person who knows to come forward.

"Thirteen years ago we had a young vibrant daughter with a bright future in front of her... Today we have a bag of bones discarded here on the side of a motorway.

"We desperately need to know what happened to Melanie on the night she left the nightclub in Bath... Watching this interview, probably, will be the person or persons involved in Melanie's murder - if not, people who know of the people involved.

He added: "Someone out there has a pretty good idea what has happened to Melanie. A friend of people involved or a relative of people involved. Someone may have an good idea that something may not be right. I'm hoping that now her body has been found they find that change of heart or strength of will to come forward.

"People out there know, and have lived with that secret for 13 years."

Mrs Hall added: "I feel very angry that she has been dumped on the side of the road like a sack of garbage. I'm sure I'll come to terms with that at some stage."

The psychology graduate had been on a night out with friends and her boyfriend of three weeks, Dr Philip Karlbaum, who left the club "upset" after seeing her dancing with another man.