Police Photfit of unidentified woman

THE funeral of an unidentified Oriental woman whose body was found on Pen y Ghent in the Yorkshire Dales three years ago is set to go ahead in the Craven village near where she was found.

The body was found in a stream next to Sell Gill Hole on The Pennine Way above Horton-in-Ribblesdale on 20th September 2004 - following a long police investigation, the funeral is to take place at Horton-in-Ribblesdale Parish Church at 11:30am on Wednesday 5th September 2007.

Despite a protracted and far-ranging investigation, involving enquiries in both the UK and abroad, and multiple forensic tests, the identity of the female still remains a mystery.

The Rev. Roger Wood will officiate over a short non-denominational service and burial with a plot provided by Horton-in-Ribblesdale Parish Council.

Detective Inspector Pete Martin, who has been leading the investigation, said: "It is deeply disappointing that despite all our efforts and investigations over the past three years, this woman is going to her grave without us knowing her identity.

Someone knows her name - now is the time for them to come forward...

DI Pete Martin - North Yorkshire Police

"It is terrible to think that she may well have family friends who have no idea that she has been put to rest in this part of North Yorkshire. However this is by no means the end of our investigation and our enquiries to identify her will continue. Someone, somewhere knows who is she is, I need them to contact me.

"This investigation has gone from the Yorkshire Dales to half-way round the world and we have learned so much about this lady - and yet we still cannot tell how she came to be up on the hill-side, how she met her end and, most poignant of all, just who she was. Someone knows her name - now is the time for them to come forward and help us solve a mystery and end three years of uncertainty for her family."

Anyone who can help should call the North Yorkshire Police Witness Line on 01423 539334