Millions of television viewers will tonight be asked to help trace a man wanted in connection with the murder of a former Oxfordshire woman.

The case of Carol Evans, who was found dead in an outbuilding at her home, will feature on the BBC's Crimewatch UK programme.

Detectives are hunting her former lodger Peter Airey, whose whereabouts remain a mystery, and hope the show's watchers will be able to provide information.

Ms Evans, 40, left Oxfordshire in 1999 with her then-partner to live in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The couple split but she stayed in the town.

Her body was found in the outbuilding at her home on April 24. She died of severe head injuries and could have been dead for weeks.

The last confirmed sighting of Mr Airey is April 8, although there were unsubstantiated reports that he was in Leicester in April 25.

Det Insp Bert Deane, who is leading the investigation, said: "Eight million people watch Crimewatch UK each month and I'm convinced that at least one of those people will know where Peter Airey is or will have seen him in the past week.

"He could now be anywhere in the country. He often dyes his hair and while it has been brown, it may now be blonde, black or even red.

"Can you help find him? If so, please call the studio tomorrow night or detectives in the incident room."

Mr Airey is known to have visited a number of clergymen in the Peterborough area and a Salvation Army hostel but the trail has gone cold since he was seen on April 8.

Detectives working on the case, dubbed Operation Windermere, believe the lodger may have been the last person to see Ms Evans alive.

Crimewatch will be screened from 8.05pm to 9pm on Wednesday, may 23, with an update from 10.40pm to 10.50pm.

An incident room in Peterborough will be open until midnight and officers will take calls until midnight. The number is 01733 424390.