Police in Braintree are continuing their appeal for information regarding the death of a teenager.

Last week the Evening Gazette reported an anonymous letter sent to the newspaper and the police had prompted a re-investigation into the 1981 death of 18-year-old Vernon Searl of Sible Hedingham.

A police spokesman said: "We have received several telephone calls regarding Mr Searl and we are grateful.

"We are trying to establish a time line of where certain people were at the time from 6pm onwards on the evening of August 24, 1981.

"We are also beginning to get information about his lifestyle, what he did day-to-day. This is vital. We would encourage more people to come forward to help us."

Mr Searl, of Hilton Way, Sible Hedingham, died in Coggeshall on Monday, August 24, 1981, when his 250cc motorcycle mounted a kerb in Colne Road at about 9.45pm and collided with a tree.

Braintree detectives previously said they believed burglars who were robbing a house nearby were either disturbed by the noise of the crash or saw it.

Following the arrival of the letter, they now believe the robbers may have actually caused the accident in which Vernon died.

Information to Inspector Mark Harman at Braintree police on 01376 330722.

Published Monday August 16, 2004

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