A MOTHER'S emotional appeal for help in catching her son's killer has helped detectives make a possible breakthrough in a decade-old murder case.

Police revealed they had arrested two people over the killing of takeaway delivery man Paul Logan who was ambushed and beaten to death in 1993.

The 25-year-old from Blackhill, near Consett, County Durham, was killed after a bogus caller lured him to a remote farmhouse at nearby Shotley Bridge.

Officers from Northumbria Police yesterday announced they had arrested a man and a woman in the South-West of England who are originally from Shotley Bridge.

After questioning at separate police stations in the South-West, they were released on police bail last night.

Mr Logan's mother, Elsie, yesterday spoke exclusively to The Northern Echo about the hurt the family is still suffering. "We need to see an end to this so all the family can get on with our lives," she said.

"The appeal was very hard to do, but it seems that maybe it shook someone or something up."

Mrs Logan, 57, of Shotley Bridge, made the appeal for information in October, ahead of the tenth anniversary of her son's death.

Detective Superintendent Ian Sharp, who is in charge of the case, said: "As a direct result of that appeal, fresh information has come to light."

Mr Logan, a delivery driver for the Golden Flower Chinese restaurant, arrived at Blue House Farm, near Shotley Bridge, just before 10pm on December 23. He left after being told by the householder that no meal had been ordered.

Later that evening, his car was found at the end of the lane leading to the farm. Police discovered his snow-covered body about 50 yards away, at 2.15am on Christmas Eve.

Mr Logan had suffered massive head injuries, inflicted by a blunt instrument that has still not been recovered. He left a widow, Pamela, and two children, Natalie, now aged ten, and Michael, 14.