Police have confirmed they do not plan to interview a convicted murderer who has allegedly confessed to killing schoolgirl Billie-Jo Jenkins.

A national newspaper claimed a Wakefield jail prisoner told a cellmate he had killed the 13-year-old as she painted patio doors at her home in Lower Park Road, Hastings, nine years ago.

The man is currently serving life for murder, according to the paper, and admitted killing the youngster, who was repeatedly bludgeoned over the head with an iron tent peg But Sussex Police said officers were not preparing to check his DNA or go to the Yorkshire prison to interview him.

A spokesman said: "No Sussex Police officers are attending any prison to interview any such detained persons, nor intend to."

Billie-Jo's foster father Sion Jenkins walked free from court last week after he was formally acquitted of murdering the teenager.

The 48-year-old former deputy headteacher, now of Lymington, Hampshire, had always denied killing Billie-Jo, whose battered body was found in a pool of blood at the family's home.

He stood trial three times for murder and had two appeals during the nine years he fought to clear his name.

Bob Woffinden, a campaigning journalist and close friend of Mr Jenkins, told The Argus: "We should be very sceptical of so-called jail cell confessions because there have been a number of miscarriages of justice based on them.

"Of course the police should be investigating new lines of inquiry if there is a credible reason to do so but I do not know if this is credible or not."

Following the case, Mr Jenkins launched a scathing verbal attack on police for his "terrible ordeal" and "very dark days".

He said the police had been "wilfully blind and incompetent".