DETECTIVES investigating the horrific murder of a schoolgirl who died after callous killer poured petrol through her family's front door have been inundated with phone calls.

Emily Salvini was just seven years old when an arsonist torched her family home on Hemdean Road, Caversham.

Her brother Zach alerted the siblings' mother Katie of the flames, but the phone lines serving the house had been cut and they were unable to call the emergency services.

By the time tragic little Emily was reached, she had died as a result of the thick plumes of of black smoke.

The killer is still at large and the family recently launched a fresh appeal to track down the responsible, exactly 20 years after Emily's heartbreaking death.

Thames Valley Police, the force investigating the murder, revealed this week it has received numerous phone calls with information and thanked the public for their help.

A police spokesman said: "We have had a number of calls but we continue to urge anyone with any information to please come forward.

"We would also like to thank the media and the public for sharing our appeal and reminding people of this horrific crime twenty years on."

With the trace to find Emily’s killer running cold two decades later, Ms Salvini – still dealing with the grief of losing her first-born child – says she blames herself for being unable to save her.

"Losing Emily has been the devastation that has eclipsed everything else," her mother explained.

"Emily deserves justice. She was a pure delight to be around. She was sweet, she was kind and she was gentle.

“Your ways of blocking the pain become more efficient, but I don’t think we will ever get closure.

“Emily is gone. She has been murdered. People need to see some form of justice. Her life shouldn’t have been taken.

"She was going to be the prettiest girl in the world.”

Young Emily died in the early hours of May 3, 1997.

The unknown arsonist poured petrol through the letterbox, followed by a match, sending the house up in flames days after the tyres on the family car had been slashed.

Anyone with information should contact Thames Valley Police on 101 immediately.