Babes in the Wood murder suspect Russell Bishop has been refused parole.

The convicted sex attacker will now remain behind bars for at least another two years.

Bishop, 37, has served 14 years of a life term for the attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnap in 1990 of a seven-year-old schoolgirl at Devil's Dyke, north of Brighton.

He was charged with murdering Karen Hadaway, nine, and Nicola Fellows, ten, in 1986 but the trial collapsed when forensic evidence was called into question.

Bishop escaped a second trial under "double jeopardy" laws. The 800-year-old ruling was repealed in April this year.

The families of Karen and Nicola have been told Bishop will have to wait two more years for his next parole hearing.

Nicola's uncle Nigel Heffron, 50, from Brighton, told The Argus: "The whole family is very relieved. It's good to know justice is still strong and has kept this man behind bars.

"This man should never come out of prison. We are now delighted the double jeopardy laws have changed and the police can now investigate the children's deaths again."

His brother, Ian Heffron, a former police officer, added: "Hopefully Bishop will never be a free man. The parole board's decision is great news."

Michelle Johnson, Karen's mother, said: "This man should remain behind bars until the day he dies.

"The parole board's decision is the one I have been praying for.

I was terrified he might be let out."

Bishop, a former Brighton roofer, angered the families after threatening to return to the city if he was released from prison.

Sussex Police opened Operation Salop in an attempt to solve the Babes in the Wood murders in June.

Bishop, a father of three, is being held at Wakefield prison in South Yorkshire.