The family of a Glasgow mum who is feared to have been murdered have appeared on Crimewatch.

Isabella Skelton was last seen in the Crumpsall area of Manchester over 50 years ago on June 5, 1969. 

The mother-of-three had moved there with her family in the 1960s before her disappearance at the age of 35.

Half a century on, Greater Manchester Police confirmed in December 2023 that the case was being treated as a murder inquiry. One man has been interviewed under caution on suspicion of her murder but no one has been charged.

Now Ms Skelton's daughter Lynda Chapman has appeared on BBC One's Crimewatch Live programme to urge people to come forward, the Daily Record reports.

Glasgow Times: Isabella's daughter LyndaIsabella's daughter Lynda (Image: Supplied)

She said: "We had a normal family life and she was a typical mum. She went to work and she looked after the house.

"In the beginning, I was surprised she left before my birthday. My dad just told me that she had gone to work away and that was basically it. You need a mother and I found not having one traumatic."

She added: "I started in 1978 to look for my mum. My husband and myself went to Glasgow and tried the electoral rolls.

"Nothing happened so we kept pushing and pushing for different things but we have come to a dead end really. If somebody knows anything hopefully they can find some way of getting it across."

The family have tried tirelessly over the years to trace Ms Skelton, including drawing on the services of a genealogist.

However, it wasn't until 2019 that Ms Chapman realised her mother was never formally reported missing.

Greater Manchester Police became involved and the force later released an age-progressed image of what she would look like today.

Glasgow Times:

In October 2020 a man was interviewed under caution on suspicion of the murder.

In 2021, forensics searched and excavated her last known address but no human remains or conclusive evidence were uncovered.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "This has been a complex and protracted investigation, and at this stage, all conventional lines of enquiry in our search for Isabella, have been exhausted.

"But, as with all complex investigations like this, we will continue to keep an open mind, and should new evidence come to light, we will follow all lines of enquiry to provide Isabella's family with the answers they deserve.

"Needless to say, such cases are never closed, and we would be grateful for any new lines of enquiry or information."