Vikki Thompson's mother and husband, Margaret Simpson and Jonathan Thompson The mother of a woman murdered 10 years ago as she walked her dog in an Oxfordshire village has appealed for help to finally bring the killer to justice.

The investigation into the death of Vikki Thompson, a 30-year-old mother-of-two from Ascott-under-Wychwood, has been reopened, and police hope advances in DNA testing and new information will help solve the mystery.

Speaking at a press conference, Mrs Thompson's mother Margaret Simpson, supported by her daughter's husband Jonathan Thompson, pleaded for anyone with information about the attack on Saturday, August 12, 1995, to come forward.

She said: "To this day we still don't know who carried out this attack and why. Vikki was only 30 years old. She was a devoted wife to her husband Jonathan and a loving mother to Matthew, now 17, and Jennifer, now 15. She was a wonderful daughter and friend to me and is desperately missed by all her family and friends.

"Time has passed by now, but still we never forget the loss we suffered when Vikki was taken away from us. Vikki herself deserves the justice that has not been found yet.

"To anyone who knew Vikki, please remember her. To the people of Ascott-under-Wychwood, please try and recall the events of that day 10 years ago.

"To anyone else who may have cause to have been involved, or know somebody else that may have been involved, please think if you can help. It's never too late."

Det Chief Insp Pete Beirne, now leading the case, said loyalties may have changed since Mrs Thompson's death, and urged anyone with even the smallest piece of information to contact him in strict confidence. He said: "This was a brutal, unprovoked attack on a 30-year-old woman and mother, and the effect on her family was absolutely devastating.

"I urge people who were in that area of Ascott-under-Wychwood on that Saturday 10 years ago, between 4pm and 7pm, who think they might be of help to us to get in touch. This includes passengers on the trains passing through the village on the Cotswold line which ran from Paddington."

Mr Beirne said the science of obtaining DNA samples was in its infancy in 1995, and police were in the process of submitting several items from the case to a laboratory for re-examination.

Mrs Simpson said: "I feel someone has got 10 years of freedom they didn't deserve, and I just want my daughter's killer brought to justice."

A £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction, made in 1995, is still being offered. A mobile police station will be in Ascott-under-Wychwood on Friday and anyone with information is asked to visit it or call Mr Beirne via 0845 8505505, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.