POLICE investigating the murder of a North Yorkshire postmistress have begin interviewing drivers of vans as they follow up a potential key line of inquiry.

Former York woman Diana Garbutt, 40, was found dead in the upstairs living room of the shop and post office in Melsonby, near Richmond, last week.

Her husband, Robin, 44, said he made the tragic discovery after an armed robbery, which saw a raider confront him in the store before escaping with a substantial amount of cash from the safe.

Detectives investigating the killing are looking to trace the owner or driver of a white Transit or box van left parked outside at the time of the murder which took place on Tuesday, March 23.

They have also carried out stop checks of vehicles passing through the village, and a spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: “We have received information from the public regarding a number of white vans in the area.

“We are in the process of interviewing the owners and drivers of these vans to identify them and eliminate the van from the inquiry.” The body of Mrs Garbutt, who grew up in Eggborough, near Selby, and attended Brayton High School and Selby College, was found after she had suffered severe head injuries, with her husband – who ran the store with her – telling police he was faced with the armed raider at about 8.30am last Tuesday.

Detectives have also been searching bins, gardens and a stream in Melsonby, while a book of condolence has been opened in the village. Anybody with information about the murder should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060 247.

Meanwhile, residents in the village say they have been quizzed by police about body-piercings and eyebrow-plucking, as well as their hair and eye colour and whether they usually wear a watch, by the investigation teams.

The police spokeswoman said: “Officers need to build up a complete picture of all movements in the village on the morning of March 23. To do this, we need to speak to everybody who lives in the village or was in the village at that time. We realise some questions we ask may be intrusive, but we would like to reassure residents that the questions we ask are important to the investigation.”