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The riddle of who brutally murdered a seven-year-old almost 24 years ago could be solved by a schoolgirl babysitter.

Little Nikki Allen was discovered in a pool of blood after being knifed 37 times in the horrific attack in 1992.

Now detectives have confirmed they are looking at a new line of enquiry, reports the Chronicle.

Nikki’s mum, Sharon Henderson, was contacted by a woman who said she had fresh information about the murder of the seven-year-old.

We understand the woman, who was just 12 at the time of the killing, had been babysitting in the block of flats where Nikki disappeared from on October 7, 1992.

Sharon said: “She told me she had some information after seeing a sketch of the man police are looking for on the Crimewatch programme.”

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(Image: Chronicle Live)

The potential witness is now understood to have come forward and spoken to police.

Sharon, 49, from Sunderland, said: “I have always said that any small nugget of information could make the world of difference to this case. I have my fingers crossed that this is it.

“I have waited so long for a breakthrough.”

Nikki vanished 24 yeas ago after leaving her grandparents’ flat in Wear Garth, East End.

The Wear Garth flats, which have since been pulled down, were home to scores of families and Sharon and her family were well known residents.

Nikki’s shoes were discovered outside the derelict Exchange building a few hundred yards away the next morning. Her body was found inside the building by a neighbour helping police with the search.

She had been left lying in a pool of blood after being stabbed 37 times in the chest.

In the years that followed, police have had no success in their efforts to bring the killer to justice.

In 1993, George Heron, 24 at the time, was acquitted of Nikki’s murder by a jury at Leeds Crown Court.

Mr Justice Mitchell refused to allow certain tape recordings of Northumbria Police interviews with Mr Heron to be put before the jury.

Consequently, the jury did not hear his admission on one recording that he killed Nikki.

The judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible and criticised the police for ‘oppressive questioning’ and of misrepresenting evidence, charges the force denied.

(Image: Chronicle Live)

Two years ago Northumbria Police arrested Sunderland man Steven Grieveson, 47, on suspicion of Nikki’s murder. He was questioned and bailed but detectives later said his bail had been cancelled and he faced no further current action.

A Crimewatch reconstruction was shown on TV to mark the 21st anniversary of Nikki’s death where detectives from Northumbria Police showed unseen video footage and a sketch of a man they were trying to trace.

The programme sparked a resurgence in the case, with detectives saying they were following a number of new leads.

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Sharon said: “The woman who contacted me said she had seen the Crimewatch programme and she could not stop thinking about how she might hold information.

“I just told her to get in touch with the police straight away.”

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “We have received information from a member of the public which police are following as a line of enquiry.”

Anyone who thinks they have information that could help detectives with inquiries is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191.