THE mother of a murdered postmistress told yesterday how the killer had destroyed her life, as police appealed for information about a mystery white van.

Diana Garbutt, who grew up in Eggborough, was murdered on Tuesday at the post office she ran with her husband, Robin, in Melsonby, near Richmond. The couple had previously lived in York and Mr Garbutt still has family in the city.

Yesterday, Diana’s mother, Agnes Gaylor, 60, appealed for help in finding the killer. Speaking at a hotel in York, she made an emotional appeal to find her daughter’s killer and said the last few years in Melsonby had been the happiest of Diana’s life. Mrs Gaylor said: “She was content, she loved her life. She didn’t deserve to be taken like this.

“Nobody does. But she, of all people, did not deserve to be taken this way.”

Mrs Gaylor, who runs the Boot And Shoe pub at Gowdall, near Selby, added: “The person who has taken my Diana’s life has also destroyed my life, her husband Robin’s life and the lives of so many other people who adored Diana.

“I’m here today to appeal to anyone watching, reading or listening, if you have any information which may help the police catch the person who brutally murdered my wonderful daughter, Diana, to please come forward with that information.

“Someone knows the person who did this. Someone you know may have Diana’s blood on their clothes, may be behaving oddly or spending more money than usual.

“Catching them won’t bring my daughter back but, if you know anything which can catch or could catch and stop the killer from hurting anyone else, please speak out now and contact the police.”

So far there have been more than 90 calls to the police incident room but Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw said more help was needed.

He said: “We still need to trace all customers who used Melsonby Post Office between 4am and 9am on Tuesday and ask that anyone who was in the shop or post office to contact us as soon as possible.

“We would like to trace the owner or driver of a white Transit or box van which was seen parked near the post office between 4am and 9am Tuesday.

“The vehicle was seen by a number of people and we would like to eliminate it from the inquiry. If you believe you are the driver or owner of that van, please get in touch.”

Det Supt Raw said he would also like to speak to the driver of any vehicles which passed through the village at that time of day so they could be eliminated from inquiries.

Mrs Garbutt, 40, was found dead in the upstairs living quarters of the post office on Tuesday morning.

Her husband, former York man Robin Garbutt, 44, said he discovered his wife’s body after an armed raider confronted him in the store and made off with a substantial amount of cash.

Anyone with any information should phone the incident room on 01904 669576. Alternatively telephone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.