The sister of a 16-year-old boy murdered by a serial killer wants to thank the mystery person who lays flowers at his Keighley grave.

Maureen Hudson, whose brother Stephen Wilson was killed on January 3, 1976 by former public schoolboy Mark Rowntree, believes the flowers could be placed at the grave by a schoolboy pal.

She travels from her East coast home to lay a wreath on his grave every Christmas and on the anniversary of his death.

"Sometimes someone places flowers on the grave. I suspect it's one of Stephen's friends from all those years ago. I would like to thank them very much," said the 47-year-old nurse.

She has kept the wreath-laying vigil every Christmas and New Year since Stephen was stabbed to death as he waited for a bus at Eastburn, near Keighley.

"Sadly my mum was unable to make it this year because she has been ill. 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," said Mrs Hudson.

Stephen was one of four victims killed by 19-year-old Rowntree, of Guiseley, in an eight-day orgy of violence at Christmas 1975 and into the New Year. His family do not want to disclose the location of his grave for fear Rowntree may visit it. The killer is allowed to make day trips from the secure unit where he is being held at St Luke's Hospital in Middlesbrough.

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.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.