A detective has made a last desperate appeal in an almost three-year long investigation to uncover the identity of a mystery dead woman.

Her body was found on the slopes of Pen-y-ghent near to a pothole and close to the Pennine Way by a group of walkers on September 20, 2004.

As North Yorkshire Coroner Geoff Fell recorded an open verdict at a re-opened inquest today in Skipton, Detective Inspector Pete Martin said despite following up 255 people fitting her description, she still remained unknown.

Even a pathologist who examined her body remains baffled as to the cause of her death.

The examination was able to confirm she had once been pregnant, however.

The women, who was oriental and aged between 25 and 35, is understood to have died a week before she was found. The discovery of her body sparked a hunt which stretched across Asia.

Det Insp Martin said: "Our efforts to put a name to this poor woman continue, but this could be our last chance.

"We owe it to her to find her name and to notify her family. She must have a family, friends and even a partner - even a child - and we need to find them.

"This investigation has gone from the Yorkshire Dales to half way round the world, and yet we still can't tell how she came to be up on the hillside, how she met her end, and most poignant of all, who she is.

"Someone knows her name - now is the time for them to come forward and help us to solve the mystery and end three years of uncertainty for her family."

The post mortem which was unable to give a cause of death because of the condition of thebody, did reveal her right hand was broken, possibly caused by a punch.

In the bid to identify the woman, an anthropologist was brought in to study her ethnicity, an odontologist to examine her teeth, an entomologist to help with the date of her death and an expert scrutinised her jewellery.

The nearby Sell Pot cave system was also investigated on four occasions, including areas only reachable by potholers.

There were house to house inquiries in the area and appeal letters in a variery of languages were sent out.

Mr Fell said "We must continue to be hopeful that she can be identified.

"Meanwhile samples of her DNA will be kept in case somebody does come forward."

Mr Fell has now released the body, which is expected to be cremated.

The woman was wearing green Marks and Spencer jeans, size 12, and light-coloured socks. A turquoise and white horizontally striped tee-shirt was found nearby.

She was wearing a gold ring on the third finger of her left hand and came from Thailand. Her ears were pierced but she wore no earrings. There was no sign of shoes, jacket or baggage.

Anyone who can help should telephone 0845 6060247.