THE widow of North-East PC Keith Blakelock is launching a fresh appeal over his murder, 25 years after he was hacked to death during riots.

The Sunderland police officer’s family said they were speaking out collectively for the first time as they realised it might be their last opportunity to get a conviction.

Father-of-three PC Blakelock was murdered by a machetewielding gang in clashes with police during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham, north London, in October 1985.

Speaking on BBC’s Crimewatch, his wife, Elizabeth, said: “I know it was the uniform that they were attacking that night, but there was a father and a husband inside that uniform and they killed him.

“He didn’t stand a chance. He was armed with just a small truncheon and a shield. He was a home beat officer; he wasn’t a riot officer.

“But he was called on to do a duty and he did it and he gave the ultimate sacrifice for doing that.”

In a direct appeal to the public, she added: “If there is anybody out there who knows what happened, and I am sure there are people out there, for whatever reason you haven’t come forward before, please think now.”

The couple’s sons, Mark, Kevin and Lee, were 13, 11 and eight when their father was killed.

Mark said: “The reason we have decided to speak for the first time collectively is because we realise that this is probably our last opportunity to get what we want, which is a conviction for what happened to dad.”

An extended appeal will be aired on the show, including a new reconstruction of the riots.

Ten people have been arrested this year in connection with the murder. On the anniversary of the killing on October 6, police said they were beginning to build a clearer picture of the night of the attack and the re-investigation had moved into the arrest phase.

Six people were originally charged with the murder, including Winston Silcott, Mark Braithwaite and Engin Raghip. They were convicted of the killing in 1987, but cleared on appeal four years later.

Three youths were also charged with murder, but did not face trial after a judge ruled that their questioning was inadmissible.

■ Crimewatch is at 9pm on BBC One tonight.