Police have released a new image of a 74-year-old pensioner who they fear might have been murdered after she went missing nearly six months ago. 

Annette Smith has not been seen since last November when she was spotted leaving her home in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, and getting into a blue or black car with another woman.

The pensioner was last seen wearing a black and white striped cardigan and red leather slip-on shoes. She was also believed to be carrying a suitcase.  

Bedfordshire Police announced last week that they were now treating Ms Smith disappearance as a murder case and the force will be handing out leaflets over the weekend with the new photo to encourage anyone with information to come forward.

A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Police said today: 'Officers have been following a number of lines of inquiry, including carrying out house-to-house interviews in the Stotfold area.

Annette Smith has not been seen since last November when she was spotted leaving her home in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, and getting into a blue or black car with another woman.  Bedfordshire Police announced last week that they were now treating Ms Smith disappearance as a murder case

A new photo of Annette Smith released by Bedfordshire Police. The force will be handing out leaflets over the weekend with this new photo to encourage anyone with information to come forward

'Over the coming days officers will also be handing out leaflets to encourage anyone with information to get in touch.'

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: 'We are working really hard to find out what happened to Annette and get answers for her friends and family.

'We would once again urge anyone who had seen Annette prior to her disappearance to come forward and speak with us.

'Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could be vital.

'If anyone in the West Wing area has any CCTV, doorbell footage or dashcam footage from November please let us know.'

'Alternatively, you can call 101 and ask to speak to the Major Crime Unit quoting Operation Broome.

'If you wish to provide information anonymously you can do so by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'