THE retired detective appointed to investigate the 14-year-old murder of Ann Heron admits that the job will carry a certain amount of pressure.

However, as a veteran of a number of murder and serious criminal investigations, Ian Phillips, 49, is hopeful his "cold case" review may result in a conviction.

Mr Phillips retired from Durham Police earlier this year after 30 years of service.

Although he was based in Darlington for most of his career, with occasional spells in Durham and Newton Aycliffe, he was not involved with the initial murder investigation.

The officer in charge of the Heron case, Detective Superintendent Dave Jones, said: "I wanted someone who didn't really bring any previous knowledge of the case and have a fresh look at it.

"Ian has a wide range of experience and really did fit the bill. He will be able to dedicate himself to looking at the case. So I asked the chief constable if I could appoint him."

Mr Phillips' career has involved a number of murder investigations, including the murder of former reporter Mark Johns, at his hotel on Bowes Moor in the early1980s.

He was also involved in the investigation into the murder of Julie Paterson, in Darlington, in 1998.

Ms Paterson's dismembered remains were found in Polam Lane, in the garden of a run-down cottage. The investigation ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of John Harker.

Other investigations which Mr Phillips was involved in were the murder of Dean Godfrey in 1998 and the Snipe Lane rape in 1993.

Mr Phillips said of his appointment that while he thought there had been one or two cases elsewhere in the country, this appointment was unique for the Durham force.

"That might place a bit more pressure upon me in these circumstances but I've worked with Dave on a number of inquiries and it's a great honour to do something for Durham Constabulary still," he said.

"It does feel like I've never been away. I've been accepted by everybody and it's the same old faces."

He said: "While I can't promise anything, if we did get a conviction it would be a very, very clear reflection of the dedicated work that was carried out all those years ago."

He also said that he had not approached the investigation with anybody under suspicion.

"I was very aware when I started this that I would have to keep a totally open mind," he said.

And while his appointment and the work he is doing may seem reminiscent of the BBC1 series Waking the Dead, Mr Phillips said, on this occasion, life did not imitate art.