Detectives investigating the unsolved murder of a taxi driver 29 years ago have received an “encouraging response” following a renewed appeal by his sons.

Derek Brann, who was 48, was stabbed several times and his blood-soaked taxi was found in Seabrook, near Hythe, on November 6, 1988.

It was found abandoned in a layby the morning after Bonfire Night.

Two weeks later his body was found buried, hidden under a crash barrier on the M20, near the Channel Tunnel, with multiple stab wounds.

A week after the renewed appeal, Det Sgt Andrea Richards said: “There has been an encouraging response to the renewed appeal into Derek Brann’s death and we are currently following up a number of lines of inquiry.

“We continue to appeal for anyone with information about what happened to call us.”

The cold case was reopened last week when the victim’s sons Aaron and Adrian Brann launched a fresh appeal to find their father’s killer.

It came as police told how advances in DNA technology could help if any new suspects are identified.

Aaron, now 44, was 15 when his father was killed.

He said: “Still to this day I cannot understand why anybody would have done what they did to dad. It’s incomprehensible.

“It’s difficult to live with but you just get on with your life. Since our mum died last January it has brought up all sorts of memories again, and reminded me of the desire we all have to get a positive conclusion to it all.”

A police spokesman said the large scale investigation unearthed various lines of inquiry with a number of people interviewed: “No unsolved case is every truly closed and murder investigations such as this are regularly reviewed to see if they would benefit from further examination.”

Anyone with information should call police on 01634 884010 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111. To contact the family, email derekbrannappeal@gmail.com