A Baildon van driver today appeared in Court charged with the murder of housewife Mary Gregson almost 23 years ago.

Ian Lowther was arrested at his home in Derwent Avenue on Saturday and formally charged with killing Mrs Gregson on August 30, 1977.

Police launched a murder hunt which was to span more than two decades after retrieving the body of the 38-year-old from the River Aire the day after she disappeared.

The Shipley mum was killed after leaving her canal-side home to walk along the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath to Salts Mill where she worked as a cleaner.

Divorcee Ian Lowther was led into Bradford Magistrates Court 1 at 10.15am today, flanked by two security guards.

Standing motionless behind the security screen of the dock, Lowther was released from his handcuffs and faced stipendiary magistrate David Thomas.

The court, packed with journalists, police and other onlookers, as Lowther's solicitor Paul Fitzpatrick, did not make an application for bail.

Lowther, dressed in a navy blue jumper and white shirt, looked directly at the magistrate as he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Michael Rigglesworth, prosecuting, outlined the case to the magistrate before making an application for Lowther to be remanded in custody.

Lowther showed no emotion throughout the initial hearing of the case which lasted around five minutes.

Detectives who have manned the hunt for Mrs Gregson's killer watched the proceedings from the back of the court.

After hearing from both solicitors, Mr Thomas told Lowther he would be remanded in custody while the case was adjourned until May 8.

Lowther was again handcuffed before being led from the emptying courtroom to the cells below.

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