The pensioner who made the crucial call which led police to the killer of 87-year-old Jean Barnes today got her £25,000 reward.

Audrey Ridpath, 82, from Worthing, watched a programme on BBC South Today two years ago previewing a Crimewatch programme to be shown later that night.

The programme showed notes to the milkman which murderer David Munley had written pretending they were from Miss Barnes.

The 57-year-old odd-job man, who had plundered Jean Barnes' home while her body lay in the house, forged the notes to give the impression she was still alive.

Mrs Ridpath phoned Worthing Police saying Munley had tried to dupe one of her neighbours, Winifred Smith, by attempting to steal from her bank account.

She recognised his writing and was even able to supply police with copies of his handwriting and provided the vital clues which led to his arrest and eventual conviction.

Mrs Ridpath said of Munley: "I think he got what he deserved and I am pleased to have been able to assist the police to bring him to justice.

"I was watching early evening television and saw this letter come up, a letter very similar to one he had written to an old lady who lived next door to me.

"He got £5,000 from her, but we got it back. I saw this second letter and they were so much alike I got in touch with the police.

"David Munley used to work for me as a decorator, making shelves and mending the balcony, and was very pleasant when he was decorating - but he made a great mistake and that was when he was caught."

The £25,000 reward was jointly funded by the police and Miss Barnes's friends and family.

Mrs Ridpath said she planned to give some of it to a Rwandan orphanage.

Detective Superintendent Steve Scott, who led the investigation, said: "Rewards are very useful in murder investigations and Mrs Ridpath contacted us following an appeal on Crimewatch UK.

"Her information was vital in identifying the person responsible and I am pleased to be able to pay her the £25,000 reward."

There are three other ongoing inquiries carrying a reward - the killing of Jay Abatan in Brighton (£175,000), the inquiry into the attacks on women in their homes in Bognor and Chichester (£20,000) and the investigation of a series of armed robberies in Worthing (£10,000).

He urged anyone with information on any of these cases to contact the police on 0845 6070999.