The sister of a 16-year-old boy murdered in 1976 wants to thank the mysterious person who lays flowers at his Keighley grave.

Maureen Hudson's brother Stephen Wilson was killed on January 3, 1976, by former public schoolboy Mark Rowntree. Mrs hudson believes the flowers could be placed at the grave by a schoolboy friend of her brother.

Mrs Hudson lays a wreath at the grave every Christmas and on the anniversary of his death, making the trip from her east-coast home.

"Sometimes someone places flowers on the grave," she says. "I suspect it's one of Stephen's friends from all those years ago. I would like to thank them very much."

She has made the wreath-laying vigil every Christmas and New Year since Stephen was killed as he waited for a bus at Eastburn.

"Sadly my mum was unable to make it this year because she has been ill," Mrs Hudson says. "But we will be back in January to lay another wreath on the anniversary of Stephen's death. Hopefully mum will be fit enough to come with us."

Stephen was one of four people killed by 19-year-old Rown-tree, of Guiseley, in an eight-day orgy of violence at Christmas 1975 and into the New Year. His other victims were 85-year-old Grace Adamson, of Bingley, and Barbara Booth, 24, and her three year-old son Alan, slaughtered in their Leeds flat.

Rowntree, who recently changed his name to Paul Page, has spent 22 years in a psychiatric hospital unit since committing the crimes in a quest to become known as one of the world's worst killers.

It was revealed last month that Rowntree has been allowed out of the secure wing at St Luke's Hospital, Middles-brough, since 1995 to visit shops and pubs.

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