THE husband of a murder victim, whose throat was cut as she sunbathed at their home more than 15 years ago, was being held by detectives last night.

Wealthy businessman Peter Heron, 70, has been arrested in connection with the unsolved murder of his wife, Ann.

Mrs Heron was killed while she was sunbathing at her home on the outskirts of Darlington on August 3, 1990 - one of the hottest days of the year.

The killing shocked Britain and led to one of the North-East's longest murder inquiries.

As the years passed without any new developments, police refused to give up. They remained adamant that scientific advances could lead to a breakthrough.

Yesterday morning, a team of officers from Durham Constabulary arrested the former company director at his bungalow in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

A police spokesman said in a brief statement: "Detectives investigating the killing of County Durham woman Ann Heron have arrested a 70-year-old man on suspicion of her murder.

"A team of six officers, supported by officers from Strathclyde Police, made the arrest after raiding a bungalow in the Motherwell area of North Lanarkshire.

"Immediate relatives of the victim have been informed an arrest has been made."

After his arrest, Mr Heron was brought to the North-East and was being held at Spennymoor police station to be questioned.

Last night, Mrs Heron's sister, Maureen Hay, spoke exclusively to The Northern Echo from her home near Toronto, in Canada.

"I feel numb," she said. "My heart goes out to Ann's kids.

"Ann wasn't just my sister, she was my best friend and my confidante. She was always the first person I saw when I came back to England.

"I would like to thank the police because they have kept this case open."

Mrs Hay, 61, said she would cross the Atlantic to watch if her sister's killer was ever brought to justice in court.

Their mother, Margaret O'Neill, died last year and Mrs Hay said: "She was never herself again after Ann's death and became a prisoner in her own home, never going out."

Mrs Heron was sunbathing in the garden of her home, near Darlington, on August 3, 1990, when her throat was cut.

Her body was found in a pool of blood at the isolated property, Aeolian House, which stands in its own grounds, near Middleton St George. Her bikini bottoms had been removed.

Mr Heron, who was operations manager at GE Stiller Transport, made the discovery.

After finding the body face down in the living room, he rang his boss, managing director Paul Stiller.

When Mr Stiller arrived, Mr Heron asked him to go into the house because he feared his wife was dead.

After the murder Mr Heron made an emotional public appeal for the killer to be caught.

He said: "I would give my life if this person could be caught.

"The only thing that is keeping me going now is work. But the moment it's over, that's when the crying starts and the depression begins."

The murder investigation centred on the driver of a blue car seen driving away from the house at about the time Mrs Heron was killed.

Detectives were certain the man behind the wheel could provide them with crucial information.

As the years passed and the driver could not be found they began to speculate that he may have been the murderer.

Last night, the man leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Dave Jones, renewed his appeal for the public to come forward with information.

A police spokesman said: "Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant they think it may be, is asked to call the police."

Mrs Heron's first husband, Ralph Cockburn, with whom she had a daughter and two sons, is a former detective constable for Strathclyde Police.

"My daughter, Ann-Marie, contacted me first thing in the morning to tell me the news," he said.

"Obviously, I was divorced from Ann over 20 years ago and have not been involved closely with the police investigation. I really can't say what my reaction to the news was. It's been a long time."

Earlier this year, Durham Constabulary called in one of the country's foremost forensic experts to lead a series of laboratory tests.

Det Supt Dave Jones said at the time: "The cutting edge of technology could, ultimately, be crucial.

"A team based at the Home Office's forensic science laboratories in Wetherby will be looking at a range of samples and exhibits, some of them so minute they have never been examined. I hope to have results before the end of the year."

Police have also produced a 3D computer reconstruction of the house and grounds.

A South Yorkshire-based company was commissioned to reconstruct Aeolian House, using all available material, including the video footage and photographs taken on the day Mrs Heron died.

Det Supt Jones said: "We added all the information that has since been discovered by the inquiry team, including the location of the body, blood traces and individual fingerprints.

"The reconstructed scene has been used to test theories on what might have happened in the moments immediately before and after Mrs Heron's death. That work has provided fresh impetus and important lines of inquiry."

A report by retired detective Ian Phillips, who was brought in last year to lead a "cold case" review of the murder has also been handed in.

Over the past year, Mr Phillips has read hundreds of statements, examined thousands of samples and looked at files on more than 100 suspects.

l Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Horror on a summer's day - Page