Body finally identified after 20 years

The Beds and Herts Cold Case Review Unit made the breakthrough during Operation Hermes – a re-investigation of five bodies that remained unidentified, dating back to 1974.

A spokeswoman said their investigations, and modern fingerprinting systems, revealed the woman to be Lesley Ann Pickavance.

She said Ms Pickavance had last seen her family, who are from Bedford, in July 1990 but was not living with them.

On July 27 1990, around three weeks after they last spoke to her, a woman was seen walking on the hard shoulder near Junction 23 of the M25 near Potters Bar in Hertfordshire.

The spokeswoman said it appeared she tried to cross the carriageway to get to the central reservation and was killed after she was hit by several vehicles.

There was no identification on the body and a large-scale media appeal did not bring anyone forward, she said.

Police are continuing to appeal for help in solving four remaining cold cases.