A £50,000 reward is being offered by the parents of Melanie Hall for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for her murder.

This is Steve and Pat Hall's own money, and this is the first time they’ve offered a reward in a heartbreaking appeal.

It follows Avon and Somerset Police's live appeal on Crimewatch Roadshow last week to mark the 20th anniversary of Melanie’s disappearance.

Melanie was last seen at 1.10am on Sunday, June 9 1996 sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor in Cadillacs nightclub (now ClubXL) in Walcot Street, Bath, following a night out with friends.

This remains the last confirmed sighting of Melanie alive.

Her remains were found in vegetation next to the junction 14 northbound slipway of the M5 (Thornbury) by a workman on October 5, 2009.

Today, Melanie’s father Steve Hall said: “We believe we’re in touching distance of a significant breakthrough and feel it’s the right time to offer a substantial reward to encourage someone to come forward with information.

“Someone may have been wavering over whether to provide information for a long time.

"This amount of money is life-changing and I hope it will provide the incentive for them to do the right thing.

"The loss of Melanie has been life-changing for us and we’ll never be the same people as we were before Melanie disappeared.

“We’ve been kept fully informed by the police of updates in this investigation and we know the development of a DNA profile from an item found at the scene where Melanie’s remains were found is a major leap forward.

“Melanie’s murder has had a terrible impact on our family and I know my wife Pat is tortured by what happened to our daughter and will never get over it.

“I believe this inquiry will be solved by one of two things – either through the advancement of DNA helping to identify who was responsible, or someone who knows a crucial piece of information having the moral fibre to contact the police. I hope by us offering this reward, it’ll encourage this person or these people to come forward.”

Det Supt Andy Bevan Det Supt Andy Bevan said: “Melanie’s family have been a pillar of support to our investigation team and we’re doing everything we can to relieve their agony and find who was responsible for her murder.

“We’re continuing to work with forensic scientists to develop a DNA profile from an item found where Melanie’s remains were discovered.

"There’s no doubt this brings us an important step closer to finding her killer.

“We hope the money being offered by Steve and Pat will encourage someone to come forward with information.

"Someone out there has a very dark and terrible secret, which is getting closer to being revealed.”

The £50,000 reward will be for information provided to the police which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Melanie’s murder.

Can you help?

Did you see Melanie after 1.10am on Sunday, June 9?

Did you see her leave the Cadillacs nightclub, or see who she was with, at any time after this?

Were you in Cadillacs nightclub in Walcot Street that night?

It was the evening where England drew 1-1 with Switzerland in the opening game of the football Euro 96 Championships?

If you were there and haven’t spoken to police, please call them.

Did you see any suspicious activity or a vehicle parked on the northbound J14 slipway of the M5 – the Thornbury turn off – from the early hours of Sunday June 9, 1996 or the days or weeks afterwards?

Are you concerned about the change in behaviour of a friend or relative, or anyone showing a particular interest in this inquiry?

Do you have information on where Melanie’s clothing or belongings may be? They’ve never been found.

They include a pale blue silk dress with a round neck, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, size 5 or 6, a cream single-breasted, long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag.

In Melanie’s handbag were cosmetics and a Midland cheque book and bank card.

Also missing are items of jewellery including a Next watch with expanding bracelet and silver drop earrings.

Where are these items? Have you ever seen them?

If you have any information, you can call the Operation Denmark Incident Room on 0117 952 9788 or alternatively 101 and ask for the Operation Denmark team.