DETECTIVES hunting a sadistic attacker who strangled and then torched a Hampshire cabbie today have a vital new lead.

Officers made a television appeal to millions of viewers last night on the TV programme Crimewatch, which showed a dramatic reconstruction of the attack.

During the appeal they received a text message which named the partner of a potential suspect.

Today they were following a number of fresh lines of inquiry and Detective Inspector Stuart Murray, who is leading the Operation Seymour investigation, appealed for whoever sent the text to get in touch.

In a direct appeal to camera he said: "I would ask the sender of that text to re-contact the show or call us at Eastleigh Police Station. We do not know the circumstances in which the text was sent."

Last night viewers watched a graphic film re-enactment of the horrifying moments when Mr Fletcher was throttled and set alight in Stoneham Lane.

Derek Fletcher, 52, who lives in Sholing, had burn injuries to the lower left side of his body following the attack at about 3 am on Monday May 21.

He was treated for several weeks at the specialist burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital and is now recovering at home.

It is feared that he could be scarred for life because of the depth of the burns which went right through the skin to his muscles.