Police hope to find new DNA evidence over Esther Soper's death

The Devon and Cornwall force has set up a Criminal Cases Review Unit which aims to bring killers from as long as 30 years ago to justice.

Six murders remain unsolved in the south west over the last three decades.

Across the UK so-called cold cases are now being solved because of scientific advances and detectives believe they can repeat those successes.

Esther Soper, 52, was murdered in Plymouth on New Year's Day, 30 years ago.

Lyn Bryant was killed while she was walking near her home

Detectives believe scientific advances may allow them to find the murderer's DNA on exhibits taken from the house, and still in storage.

The case of Lyn Bryant who was stabbed near Truro in 1998, was the subject of a BBC Crimewatch reconstruction.

Another case is the killing of 14-year-old Kate Bushell in Exeter in 1997.

Detectives are reinvestigating both and whether they may be linked.

Les Bate was beaten to death

Police in Cornwall are also working to catch the killer of Les Bate, a 71-year-old who was beaten to death at his remote farmhouse near Wadebridge in April 2002.

The hunt for the killer of 74-year-old widow Joan Roddam, who was found murdered at her bungalow near Delabole, is also continuing.

The force files are also home to the UK's longest running missing person inquiry.

Thirteen-year-old Genette Tate disappeared whilst riding her bike near her home at Aylesbeare in Devon in 1978.