MELANIE Hall's parents are offering £50,000 of their own money for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for their daughter’s murder.

On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, last week police announced they had achieved a DNA breakthrough in their investigation which was followed up by a Crimewatch Roadshow episode, with more than 20 callers providing information.

Today (Monday, June 13), Melanie’s father Steve Hall said: “We believe we are in touching distance of a significant breakthrough and feel it is the right time to offer a substantial reward to encourage someone to come forward with information.

“Someone may have been wavering over whether to provide information for a long time. This amount of money is life-changing and I hope it will provide the incentive for them to do the right thing. The loss of Melanie has been life-changing for us and we will never be the same people as we were before Melanie disappeared.

“We have been kept fully informed by the police of updates in this investigation and we know the development of a DNA profile from an item found at the scene where Melanie’s remains were found is a major leap forward.

“Melanie’s murder has had a terrible impact on our family and I know my wife Pat is tortured by what happened to our daughter and will never get over it.

“I believe this inquiry will be solved by one of two things – either through the advancement of DNA helping to identify who was responsible, or someone who knows a crucial piece of information having the moral fibre to contact the police. I hope by us offering this reward, it will encourage this person or these people to come forward.”

Ms Hall's remains were found 13 years later in 2009 next to the junction 14 northbound slipway of the M5 Thornbury by a workman.

Det Supt Andy Bevan said: “Melanie’s family have been a pillar of support to our investigation team and we are doing everything we can to relieve their agony and find who was responsible for her murder.

“We are continuing to work with forensic scientists to develop a DNA profile from an item found where Melanie’s remains were discovered. There is no doubt this brings us an important step closer to finding her killer.

“We hope the money being offered by Steve and Pat will encourage someone to come forward with information. Someone out there has a very dark and terrible secret, which is getting closer to being revealed.”

This is the first time the family have offered a reward.

You can call the Operation Denmark Incident Room on 0117 952 9788 or alternatively 101 and ask for the Operation Denmark team.