Dozens of MPs – including George Galloway and former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy – are backing a campaign for a new inquiry into the murder of Shrewsbury pensioner Hilda Murrell.

A total of 30 MPs from different political parties have signed an early day motion started by Labour's Austin Mitchell which backs human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield's call for a new commission of inquiry into the case.

The motion also recommends that the evidence about the murder of the 78-year-old, who was abducted from her Shrewsbury home and later found dead in a copse in the shadow of Haughmond Hill in 1984, should be examined by the House of Commons Justice Committee.

It follows the recent publication of a new book about the controversial case by Hilda's nephew Robert Green and his wife Kate Dewes.

The pair claim that the book, which is called A Thorn in Their Side: The Hilda Murrell Murder, casts doubt on the conviction of Andrew George, the man serving a life sentence after being convicted of Miss Murrell's abduction and murder following a five-week trial in 2005.

Mr Green said today he was delighted with the support of the group of MPs for their campaign.

Other politicians to have signed up to the motion including Conservative Peter Bottomley and Labour's Dennis Skinner and Jeremy Corbyn.

He added that he was prepared for a long-running battle to get a commission of inquiry and hoped to sign up more MPs to the cause.

"It is going to take up to a year and it could take two years to get to a commission but we are confident it has made a good start," he said.