POLICE investigating the Harlow arson attack that claimed the life of Kerry Youngs and left her partner Kevin Chapple seriously injured have received an "encouraging" response to a fresh appeal on the BBC Crimewatch programme.

Some 33 calls were made following the reconstruction and new appeal made on Wednesday's programme.

Officers are now sifting through the information given. Essex Police spokesman Ben Pennington said 25 calls were made to the Crimewatch studio while eight callers contacted the incident room direct.

From the details given, he said, officers believed they may have identified a possible key witness.

The fire occurred in flat 4 the flat below the one where Kerry and Kevin were at Sherwood House, Bush Fair, at about 10.45pm on Wednesday, May 4.

Kerry, 24, and her boyfriend Kevin Chapple, 28, had to be rescued from the flat. Kerry died two days after the blaze.

The occupant of the flat where the fire started had moved out three days earlier following intimidation by youths.

The television appeal sought information on various people who are known to have been in the area at the time of the fire.

Police still need to speak to a man, white and in his 50s, who had a toilet roll thrown at him from the window of flat 4 during the afternoon of Wednesday, May 4.

Two white youths, one aged 15 to 18 and the other aged 17 to 20, who were seen leaving the area at the time of the fire, have also still not come forward, despite e-fits being circulated.

And police also want to speak to two people caught on CCTV running away from the area, past the first firefighters arriving at Sherwood House to deal with the blaze.

Kevin's mother, Marion, told the programme that her son had sustained serious brain damage.

She added: "We need all the prayers we can get. We need a miracle because the doctors just can't do any more than they already have. The doctors and nurses have done absolutely everything and I just can't imagine my life without him."

Anyone who was in the Bush Fair area before the fire or afterwards is urged to call police on 01279 641188.

*Police are appealling for information following a suspicious fire which caused £30,000 damage to the Sports Association premises behind the Tesco store at Church Langley.

Crews were called early on Wednesday, May 25. The London Road premises were being renovated.

Anyone with any information about the fire should ring PC Paul Haggis at Harlow police station on 01279 641212.