Nigel Bostock had been stabbed and strangled

Nigel Bostock, 31, was strangled and stabbed at his home in Banks, near Southport, in 1986.

About �700 was stolen along with a Bulova Accutron Spaceview watch which has never been traced.

Mr Bostock was gay and police appealed to members of the gay community to help in October 2003.

There were no signs of a struggle at Mr Bostock's home, where he lived alone.

New techniques

Police believe there were up to three people at the house on the night he died.

Detectives have recently turned to DNA testing on items of evidence found during the initial inquiry.

Det Supt Mick Turner said: "People will know we've got significant advances in scientific technology and the techniques we use to investigate.

"Coupling that with the national publicity a Crimewatch appeal will give us, we hope someone will come forward with some fresh information.

"We have got an amount of further information and on the day of the programme we will release quite a bit more information which will mean something to the people of Southport and perhaps the wider public in Merseyside."