The Evening Star in Ipswich has revealed how it played a pivotal role in capturing the killers of a local barmaid.

In December 2000 38-year-old Janet Fleming was murdered during a robbery at the pub where she worked.

In a bid to find those responsible, the Evening Star offered a £5,000 reward, which was doubled by the Pub Estate Company which owned the pub at that time.

And following appeals by the paper a crucial witness came forward to identify the killers.

The reward was later paid out, but the Evening Star’s role had been kept under wraps, at the request of the police, pending an appeal by one of the men against his murder conviction.

That appeal has now been quashed.

Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover said: “We are thrilled and delighted the our reward led to the convictions of two of the nastiest killers Suffolk has ever seen.

“Once again it shows the power of the regional press.

“If you get stuck in you can make a difference. These two killers are now off our streets.”

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