THE astonishing recovery of Clare Thomas has reached a point where the detective leading the hunt for her attacker is now 'confident she will be able to provide vital information'.

A press conference held by Clare's family and Det. Supt. Mark Howard revealed the mother-of-two understands everything that is being said to her and has begun using 'yes' and 'no' answers to questions.

Police are now considering the most appropriate and sensitive way of interviewing her as she recovers in Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital from the vicious and sustained attack in which the 5ft 3ins 36-year-old was repeatedly beaten while she lay on the floor.

And now Crimestoppers have upped the ante in the hunt by offering a £5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her attacker. The normal reward offered is £500.

BBC's Crimewatch programme, being screened tonight (Thursday) at 9pm, will feature a reconstruction of events on the morning of September 28, when Clare was found battered to within an inch of her life at a house called 'Candlemas' in Kinton, near Leintwardine.

Hereford police will man phones late into the night in the hope the public will provide fresh information.

Det. Supt. Mark Howard used the press conference on Tuesday to make a fresh appeal for information from the public.

"I would like to appeal to anyone who recalls friends or work colleagues acting suspiciously on the day (Sept 28), those who may have been late for work that morning or particularly anyone who had bloodstained clothing," he said.

He said the possibility that Clare knew her attacker had not been ruled out, but there was clear evidence the attacker entered Candlemas as an intruder.

He appealed to anyone who may have known Clare at Bilston Market in Wolverhampton during the 1980s and '90s where she was a popular cold meats seller.

"There are people from Clare's past who may think they live too far away from Clare to be a useful part of this investigation," said Det. Supt. Howard.

"They may not understand the significance of a certain piece of information themselves but it could be a vital piece in the jigsaw we are building up."

He said the investigation is still centring on the two sightings of a suspect running 'like a man possessed' from the direction of Candlemas.

One sighting is of a medium built man in a light coloured top with contrasting dark trousers seen running across fields from the house.

The second sighting is of a man with distinctive mousy coloured hair cut to one length like a 'bob' running along Rosemary lane from Kinton before 10am that morning.

Det. Supt. Howard's team of 40 police are expecting special forensic results from Guys Hospital in London within days to give further information on exactly how Clare's injuries were caused and the object used by her attacker.

Anyone with information about any aspect of the case or Clare Thomas herself is urged to contact police on 01432 276422 or make an anonymous call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.