THE mother of a murdered woman yesterday visited the spot where her daughter was attacked 10 years ago to make an appeal for help in tracing the killer.

Mhairi Smith, 70, wiped away tears as she and detectives walked through Bourtreehill Park in Irvine, where Shona Stevens was found in undergrowth suffering from head injuries.

Mrs Stevens, 31, who had a seven-year-old daughter, was attacked in daylight yards from her home on November 10, 1994. She died in hospital three days later.

However, no-one has ever been arrested and detectives hope Mrs Smith's appeal may prompt someone to come forward with information.

Mrs Smith left Irvine after her daughter's murder and returned to her home in Skye with her granddaughter Candice, who is now 17.

She said: ''I want justice to be done, not only for me, but Candice as well. I have never given up hope and I would call on anyone who can help the police to come forward.

''I feel more strongly about this than ever. Nothing will bring Shona back, but I can't give up hoping that her killer will be caught. We've had to live with this every day. The feeling of grief doesn't go away. It's dreadful.

''The person who did this to my daughter could do that again and someone else could be suffering like we have.''

On the day she was attacked, Mrs Stevens left her home in Alder Green, Irvine, to go shopping in Bourtreehill Village. It was as she returned home that her killer assaulted her with what police believe may have been a hammer.

Mrs Stevens was found shortly afterwards around 1.30pm lying in a field near a pathway between Towerlands Farm Road and Middleton Park. She was airlifted to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, but she never regained consciousness.

Police have interviewed more than 7500 people in connection with the murder, but yesterday said they are no closer to catching the killer.

Bob Lauder, a detective chief superintendent, said it was the most difficult inquiry he had dealt with during his 35-year career with the Strathclyde force.

He believes Mrs Stevens's murderer is from the Irvine area and is convinced that he has confided in someone during the past 10 years.

He said: ''I've dealt with lots of murder inquiries in my time but this is one of the most challenging.

''This is something which has to be resolved for lots of reasons; for closure for Shona's mum, closure for her daughter, and reassurance for the community.

''I think it would be astounding that this murder could happen in a vacuum. I think it's highly likely that the person responsible has spoken to someone in confidence. It would be a strange individual who did not tell someone.

''It's time for the person who has received that information to come forward and allow us to do our job.

''We think it's highly probable that the murderer was living in Irvine, because that park is not a place one would happen across just travelling through the town. It's off the beaten track and well known to residents, but not to visitors.''

Mrs Stevens's daughter is in her final year at school and considering going to university next year to study biochemistry. She has been brought up by her grandmother on Skye, where Mrs Stevens was buried.

Mrs Smith said: ''Candice does ask about her mum, but she can't understand why this has happened. She is a very strong young lady with a lovely personality.''

Candice was born in Durban, but before her first birthday her parents separated and Mrs Stevens and Candice moved home to Scotland.

After Mrs Stevens's murder, Mrs Smith and Candice's father Mark Stevens fought a custody battle as he wanted his daughter to live with him in South Africa, but his attempt was unsuccessful.

Three men seen in the area where Mrs Stevens was murdered have never been traced and, although they are not necessarily suspects, detectives believe they may have information that could help the inquiry.

Mr Lauder said: ''It's not acceptable that this kind of crime can go unpunished.''