Police say they remain confident of catching Hounslow schoolgirl Lynne Weedon's murderer on the 40th anniversary of her death.

Detectives investigating the 16-year-old's death urged anyone with information to "examine your conscience" and help bring the killer to justice.

Police have since linked her killing to the murder six months later of 21-year-old Playboy bunny girl Eve Stratford in Leyton, east London.

A £40,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of their killer remains on offer.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC), said: "An extraordinary amount of time has passed since Lynne and Eve were murdered, and I am still confident that someone out there has information which could lead us to the killer.

"One phone call to the incident room could be all that it takes to bring two bereaved families closer to some closure or justice.

"I urge you to examine your conscience and if you are wavering on making that call, think of Eve's family who have now passed away and Lynne's parents who are in their 80s and have endured 40 dreadful years not knowing who murdered their daughter.

"Perhaps the person who killed Lynne and Eve confided in you? Please do not keep their secret for a day longer and come forward."

Lynne Weedon was on her way home from an evening out with friends on Wednesday, September 3, 1975, at about 11.20pm, when she was raped and murdered near her home in Hounslow.

Lynne Weedon

Police believe she was followed on foot from the A4 Great West Road into an alleyway called The Short Hedges before being hit with a blunt instrument.

She was then thrown over a fence into the grounds of an electricity sub-station where she was raped.

She was discovered by a local school caretaker whose house overlooked the sub-station, and despite the horrific nature of her injuries was still alive when police and paramedics arrived at the scene.

However, she never regained consciousness and died at West Middlesex Hospital a week later on September 10.

A post-mortem showed her skull had been smashed with a heavy blunt instrument, which was never recovered.

In March this year, Lynne's mother Margaret Weedon made a fresh plea for information.

She said: "The hurt eases but the pain still sits deep somewhere inside. There are so many questions. So many thoughts. So much heartache."

Neighbour heard voices followed by a loud thud

In 2006, advances in technology revealed the same DNA on her body and Eve Stratford's, and the investigations were linked.

Ms Stratford died of neck injuries on Tuesday, March 18, 1975.

She was last seen by witnesses walking near her home in Lyndhurst Drive, Leyton, at 3.58pm. It was a snowy day and she appeared to be walking alone.

At 4.30pm an occupant in another flat at the converted house in Lyndhurst Drive heard the voices of a man and woman in conversation, followed by a loud thud.

Ms Stratford's body was found by her boyfriend in the bedroom at 5.20pm.

Eve Stratford

She had a nylon stocking tied around one ankle and a scarf around her hands. Her neck had been cut between eight and 12 times.

There was no sign of forced entry to the flat and no weapon was ever recovered.

Detectives believe the killer of both women is now in his 60s or 70s.

They are keeping an open mind but have previously said it is possibly the killer knew his victims, particularly Ms Weedon, who had a huge circle of friends and acquaintances.

It is also thought the murderer knew the Hounslow area, as the alleyway and sub-station are away from busy areas.

The motive for both killings appears to be sexual. Ms Weedon had been raped and it is likely Ms Stratford was also raped, though officers were unable to rule out consensual sex.

* Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.