The historic Loughborough fair may hold the key to solving a 25-year-old rape and murder case, police said today.

Trainee hairdresser Colette Aram, 16, was strangled and dumped in a field after she was abducted when walking to see her boyfriend on October 31, 1983.

Her naked body was found near her home in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, five miles from the county border.

Police think there is a real chance her killer came from Loughborough.

After appealing for new information, police have had 100 calls from the public, including many from Leicestershire, and have crossed the county border to carry out interviews. Officers are also making inquiries around the annual Loughborough fair, which is in the town for the 788th time next week.

It was in the town in early November, 1983, and the day of the murder – a Sunday – would have been a "down day".

Fairs often use casual labour and on that day there was a convoy of fair vehicles driving down the A46, south of Nottingham.

Detectives have been contacting the fair community in the hope of sparking someone's memory about seeing something suspicious.

A number of potential suspects have agreed to have DNA swabs taken from their mouths so that they can be eliminated from the investigation.

The advances have come due to a "massive leap forward" by University of Leicester experts last week, who formed a DNA profile of the 16-year-old's murderer.

Police say they are pleased with the quality of information received so far, but are still urging more people to call in.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Flint, head of homicide at Nottinghamshire police, said: "Some have been suggesting names, and all will be properly checked out.

"But I still want more people to keep ringing in. Do not assume that because we have already had a good response, that you don't need to call us.

"The call that matters is the call with the killer's name. If you suspect someone, or can help the investigation in any way, call us now."

The offender would now be in his late 40s to late 50s. He was described at the time as white, between 5ft 7ins and 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build, with dark, wavy hair and a wide nose.

He was wearing a knee-length dark brown suede overcoat, with a half-belt. The edges were bound with dark brown leather. A witness described it as crumpled and unkempt.

A £10,000 reward is available for information that leads to a conviction. Call Nottinghamshire police on 0115 844 6992.

Loughborough fair will this year run from Wednesday, November 12 to Saturday, November 15.

Officers will be handing out copies of a leaflet about the murder to fairgoers and fairground workers.

Police stressed that the fair was one of many lines of inquiry.