Merseyside Police have issued an urgent appeal for help identifying an elderly woman whose body was found dumped in a bin bag in Stanley Park, Liverpool, in what is being treated as a murder investigation. The victim, thought to be in her 70s, was discovered by a member of the public in the park's walled garden last Friday, but despite extensive inquiries detectives say they still do not know who she is, hampering efforts to trace her killer.

Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said the woman had likely lain undiscovered for several weeks and described her as white, around 5ft 2in tall, of small build with strawberry blonde hair, wearing a distinctive pink Nike T-shirt. Police are asking anyone who has lost contact with someone matching this description to come forward, stressing they will not be wasting time even if it proves a false lead. A post-mortem has been carried out but the cause of death is being withheld for investigative reasons, while uniformed and mounted officers continue to patrol the 110-acre park, which sits between Anfield and Goodison Park and is popular with joggers and dog walkers who have described feeling shocked and unsettled by the discovery.