PREVIOUSLY unseen video footage of skydiver Stephen Hilder hours before he plunged 13,000ft to his death has prompted people to contact detectives with information.

Last night BBC One's Crimewatch UK showed a video of Mr Hilder hours before his fatal jump and a reconstruction of his last movements in the hope it might lead police to his murderer.

As a result detectives fielded calls from people giving names of possible suspects.

One woman in particular attracted the interest of Detective Superintendent Colin Andrews. She called in with information and promised to call back with more, but by the time the programme finished she had failed to do so.

Det Supt Andrews said:"She has clearly got information that supports other information we've already got and we need to speak to her urgently."

Mr Hilder, 20, who was studying at the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, died when his parachute and reserve chute both failed to open during a university parachute championship over Hibaldtow Airfield near Brigg, in Lincolnshire, earlier this month.

Police suspect that someone sabotaged his equipment and have launched a murder hunt.

The new footage showed Mr Hilder at a karaoke party the night before his fatal jump and travelling on a bus moments before his freefall.

To date more than 400 people have been interviewed in connection with Mr Hilder's murder, but no arrests have been made and police appear to be no further forward in capturing the person they believe is responsible for Mr Hilder's death.

The army cadet gives a thumbs-up from the plane just seconds before he falls to his death the result of someone deliberately severing the cord on his main parachute and the strapping on his reserve pack.

On the night before his death Mr Hilder had been enjoying a fancy dress party at the college in Shrivenham where he turned up in a black dress and blond wig.

Det Supt Andrews said: "We were very keen to get this inquiry onto Crimewatch because it has very good results and may just provide us with the break we need to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Stephen's death.

"I believe there is somebody out there, more than likely a member of the skydiving community, who knows exactly what happened to Stephen's parachute pack and why.

"It's a wicked crime and somebody out there holds the key to this investigation."

Police still believe the killer was at the airfield during the week-long competition as Mr Hilder had successfully jumped two days earlier and repacked his own equipment.

The skydiver's parents, Paul and Mary Hilder, said their son was "an ordinary, infuriating lad who loved life and lived it to the full".

Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room on 01724 274260 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.