Hunt for 1974 killer brought into spotlight by Joanna Yeates murder in Bristol

Glenis Carruthers, 20, from Little Chalfont, was strangled on 19 January, 1974 after leaving a party in Clifton – just streets away from Miss Yeates' home.

National newspapers have highlighted similarities in the location and cause of death, though Avon and Somerset Police said the cases are not being linked.

Cold case detectives reopened an investigation into the death of Miss Carruthers in January last year.

A student at Bedford College of Physical education, Miss Carruthers had travelled to a friend's house in Bristol for a 21st birthday party.

At around 10.20pm she left the party, possibly to get some fresh air or to make a call from a telephone box nearby.

Just after 11.00pm there was a sighting of her on the Clifton Downs, where a witness thought he saw a courting couple on the grass.

A short time after her body was discovered and she had been strangled to death.

About 16,000 people were interviewed in connection with the student teacher's murder in 1974, but the killer has never been found.

It is hoped advances in DNA and forensic technology will provide the breakthrough needed to solve the case.

On January 25, 1974, the Bucks Free Press reported on the inquest into Miss Carruthers' death, when her father said “the lack of lighting may have been a contributory factor to the loss of this young life”.

The inquest heard there had been electricity failures in the Clifton area at the time, with many street lights not working.

Miss Yeates, whose murder hit headlines over the Christmas period, was reported missing on December 19 and her body found strangled on Christmas Day.

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset police said this week: "The investigation remains ongoing into the death of Joanna Yeates and is not being linked to any other murder in the Avon and Somerset area.

"But it is routine procedure for information to be looked at in any crime if new information comes to light."