A POLICE chief is appealing for anyone who knows about a murder to come forward - for the sake of the victim's family.

Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn made his plea hours after Vicky Glass's family attended the cremation of the 21-year-old prostitute, whose body was found on a stretch of desolate moor, last November.

The officer who is leading the hunt to try to find her killer said: "Although the funeral of Vicky Glass has taken place, the trauma for her family continues.

"The circumstances surrounding her death have still to be established and, until that happens, the suffering for her family will go on.

"The healing process will not be able to start, and they want be able to find peace."

The Teesside woman, who turned to prostitution to finance her heroin addiction, disappeared on a Sunday morning in September.

"She was dropped off by taxi outside the Shipmate pub, in central Middlesbrough, and was never seen alive again," said Det Supt Dunn.

Her remains were found in a culvert off West Lane, Danby.

Det Supt Dunn said: "There are still people out there with information we need, to come forward.

"There are 12 to 15 working prostitutes who we still need to see. We have made repeated calls at their homes and left numerous messages for them to contact us.

"We have spent many hours visiting addresses and looking for those girls, and for whatever reason have had no response from them at all.

"My message to them is this is a murder inquiry, a young girl is dead and we intend to find the person responsible.

"They may have information that is vital to this inquiry and they should speak to us as soon as possible.''

The telephone numbers to contact detectives are (01642) 301283 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.