Police are continuing to investigate the death of a mum in a house fire 12 years ago and are making a renewed appeal to the public for help in solving her murder.

Andrea Daly and her two sons were asleep when a fire was started deliberately through the letterbox of their home in Rochford Road, Southend, at 3.30am on Thursday, November 10, 2005.

Richard and Stuart, then aged 20 and 17, were forced to jump from a first floor window.

But Andrea, 40, became trapped in her bedroom and died as a result of inhaling smoke.

Her husband Keith was working away from home in Lincolnshire when he received the devastating call that his wife of 20 years had died.

Extensive enquiries have been carried out to try and find those responsible. But despite these efforts, they still remain at large and their motives for starting the fire are unknown.

Det Insp Stuart Truss, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Someone knows who is responsible for Andrea’s death and we will not stop until we find them.

“There may be someone who has key information but has felt frightened to come forward or felt obliged to stay silent.

“We know relationships and loyalties change and I ask those people to please help us achieve justice for Andrea’s family. They have suffered a devastating loss that many of us cannot begin to imagine and they continue to feel the heartbreaking impact, not only of her death but also the fact that so many questions remain unanswered.

“They deserve those answers and they deserve justice.”

Andrea’s son Richard, is now 30. Two years ago, in an appeal on the tenth anniversary of his mother’s death he described the terrible moment he realised the house was on fire.

He said: “I could hear loud crackling and my brother came running over, burst open the window and dived out of the window like he was diving into a swimming pool. I tried to go to the door to pull the handle open. My hand was bubbling when I touched the handle. All I could hear was my mum screaming and bellowing. I realised I couldn’t do anything.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brentwood Major Investigation Team on 101 or email scd.appeals.essex@essex.pnn.police.uk

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org