POLICE have launched a cold case review into a notorious child murder which has not been solved after 70 years.

Four-year-old Norma Dale was strangled on September 21, 1946, and her body was found on wasteland near her home in Rawdon Avenue in the Tang Hall area of York.

As one of her little shoes was missing the case became known as the “Red Shoe Murder” and it attracted national outrage.

Detectives interviewed more than 1,000 people in the wake of the death and called in back-up from Scotland Yard, but nobody was ever arrested and the case has remained unsolved.

However following publicity on the anniversary of the killing police in North Yorkshire have now confirmed that the case is under review.

Her cousin Brian Dale, now 78, welcomed the development. “It would be so good if there could be closure,” he said.

He was among the last people to see Norma when she visited his home with her mum after going to a dance school.

He recalled: “It was a normal morning, but Norma was pleading to stay and did not want to go home. But her mum wanted to get some material and make a skirt for her going to school.

“But Norma was not allowed to stay and my mother beat herself up about that for a long time."

A police spokesman confirmed the case was under review and said officers from the Major Crime Unit had visited Norma’s family.

He added: “We will be continuing our enquiries but would appeal to any member of the public who holds any information or evidence that has the potential to identify and ultimately convict the person responsible, to contact us on 101, select option two and ask to speak to the Major Crime Unit.

“Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.”