Detectives attached to the State Crime Command, who are investigating Jessica’s case, re-interviewed key witness Vanessa Conlon about the night Jessica disappeared.

They now know the light- coloured VK Holden Commodore that Vanessa and Jessica got into on October 26, 1997 had a number of holes in the front passenger side footwell.

The car also had an orange blanket covering the back shelf above the rear seat.

Sergeant Peter Smith, who is leading Strike Force Carica II – established in October 2007 to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jessica’s abduction – yesterday said police were now hoping a member of the public may recall seeing a vehicle with these characteristics and contact police.

He said the holes in the floor meant anyone sitting in the front seat of the car could see the ground from the inside.

Extensive investigations into the particular make and model of Commodore Jessica got into show footwell rust is not a problem, making the car that Jessica and Vanessa got into very unusual.

Sgt Smith said the information was significant in that it was the only fresh lead police have received which may help identify the car and its driver.

“It’s information that has never been released before and we are certainly hoping it jogs someone’s memory,” Sgt Smith said.

Jessica’s mum, Ricki Small, said she still hopes whoever abducted her daughter will be bought to justice.

“I want to find out what happened. I hope I will one day,” she said.

While the information about the holes in the footwell is new, Mrs Small said police knew from the “very beginning” about the orange blanket, although they chose not to release this information publicly.

“I can’t help but think if they’d released it early on, at the very beginning, it might have helped,” she said.

“Police knew about the orange blanket from the word go. As far as I’m concerned it was a vital piece of information and it should have been released while it was fresh in everyone’s minds.”