An inquest is due to open tomorrow into the death of a woman whose body was found by walkers more than 2½ years ago.

The woman’s identity has never been established. She was found in a stream near Horton in Ribblesdale in North Yorkshire in September 2004. An appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch and contacts with foreign embassies have failed to turn up information on the woman.

Walkers discovered the woman, who police say is between 20 and 40, near Sell Gill Pot in the shadow of Pen-y-ghent, near the Pennine Way. She is of oriental appearance and investigators say she could have died up to three weeks before her body was discovered.

DI Pete Martin of North Yorkshire Police said: “Someone must know who the woman is and I believe there may well be someone who knows she is missing. All they have to do is call us.

“We owe it to her to find her name and notify her family. She must have a family, friends, perhaps a partner – maybe even a child – and we need to find them.”

The inquest will be held at Skipton.