The police team which snared a killer more than two decades after he struck has been honoured for its tireless pursuit of justice.

Housewife Mary Gregson was sexually assaulted and strangled before her body was dumped in the Leeds- Liverpool Canal at Saltaire in August 1977.

For almost 23 years, her murderer - Baildon lorry driver Ian Lowther - remained at large, believing he had slipped the detectives' net. But on April 10 last year, 47-year-old Lowther finally appeared before Bradford Magistrates and later admitted the killing.

Advances in DNA sampling techniques saw detectives returning to a list of original suspects and taking swabs from them - the vital evidence needed to cage Lowther.

Yesterday the team was honoured as Lowther serves a life sentence in prison.

The Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Chris Binns, of Bradford South Police, received a Chief Constable's Commendation - the highest award the force can present - for his 'determination, hard work and single-minded application to duty'.

The other members, Detective Sergeant Gerry O'Shea, PC Don Hewitt, PC Lisa Shires, Detective Constable Nigel Spencer, and incident room staff Lisa Dennell and Michelle Colley, received an Assistant Chief Constable's Award of Merit.

They were recommended by the Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Brian Taylor, and will also receive Crown Court Commendations.

Det Insp Binns, who led the probe between 1988 and 1996, said: "Nothing can bring Mary Gregson back to life but providing answers to her family may go some way in helping them come to terms with her tragic death."

He paid tribute to the 1977 investigating team who drew up a list of 9,000 suspects, including Lowther.

Of the breakthrough, he said: "We went straight to members of Mrs Gregson's family to make sure they were the first to know."

Her sister Judith Sykes said: "The investigation lasted 23 years, but I always thought Mary's killer would be found one day. I cannot praise the police enough."