The Evening Star in Ipswich is leading a bid to find the killer of a 21-year-old woman who was murdered 12 years ago.

The newspaper is spearheading a consortium which has put up a £50,000 reward to help solve one of the area’s most notorious murders.

Karen Hales was stabbed to death before being set on fire in her home on November 21, 1993.

Nigel Pickover, editor of the Archant-owned Evening Star, said the case had struck a chord with him.

He said: “It might not be overnight, next week or even next month, but somebody knows who killed Karen Hales and this money could help bring that information out into the open.

“I couldn’t believe how a crime of such horror could have happened and then go on to remain unsolved.

“Since I’ve been editor of The Star I’ve always said I’ll keep the inquiry in the public eye in a bid to try to help catch the killer. And we’ve kept true to that.”

The reward has been put together by a number of local businesses after Nigel asked for their help.

It will be paid out to anyone who can provide information that leads to the conviction of Karen’s killer.

Nigel said: “The Evening Star is at the centre of the community in Ipswich and we’ve gathered together some of the great names in the town.

“These include friends, associates and colleagues who have come together to generate this significant reward.

“I felt the community should follow this on for a number of reasons, primarily to get closure for the Hales family, who have suffered enormously throughout this process.

“There is a cunning, brutal and conniving killer out there and if this person has murdered once there’s no reason to suggest he won’t do it again. It’s vital this person is caught.”