A POLICE investigation into a brutal attack last week on a young

mother became a murder inquiry yesterday when she died of her injuries

at the Southern General hospital in Glasgow.

Ms Shona Stevens, 31, of Alder Green, Irvine, in Ayrshire, had been

critically ill after suffering serious injuries to her head and body

when she was attacked on a footpath near her home on Thursday.

Detectives, who described the attack as ''savage'', said they had had

a good response from the public but today will renew their appeal for

information at a news conference in Kilmarnock.

Ms Stevens, who is believed to have been separated or divorced and had

a seven-year-old daughter, was found by a passer-by lying in a field

near the pathway at Ochil Court in Irvine at about 1.30pm.

She had been walking home after visiting local shops, including a

grocer's store in Bourtreehill, where she made a purchase at about

1.05pm.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Lauder, the officer leading the

inquiries, said yesterday: ''We have had a good response from the public

so far and are hoping that this will continue and develop.

''We want to contact anyone who was in the area of the footpath on

Thursday, such as people walking their dogs.''

An incident caravan at the scene can be contacted on 0294 222987 and a

murder incident room has been set up at Kilmarnock police station,

telephone 0563 21188.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out today.