The family of murdered student Jessie Earl have spoken of their hope their 30 years of hurt could soon come to an end.

Jessie's relatives have been left in limbo since the 22-year-old disappeared late at night after leaving her Eastbourne bedsit in 1980.

Her remains were found in dense undergrowth at Beachy Head in 1989 but serial killer Peter Tobin has only recently been linked to her death.

Tobin, who lived in the Brighton are for 20 years, is serving life imprisonment for the murders of three women and detectives believe he could have killed as many as nine more.

Valerie Earl, Jessie's mother said she was desperate to find out who was responsible for her daughter's death.

Mrs Earl, 79, said: “Even though it is 30 years ago I have always felt that we had not heard the end of it.

“I welcome anything that would give us a clue as to what happened, whether it was Tobin or anyone else.”

An operation involving eight police forces, headed by Sussex Police, was set up to look into Tobin's past and possible links with other crimes.

Among his other victims could be Louise Kay, 18, who disappeared in Eastbourne in 1989. Her body has never been found.

Tobin, now 63, was working at a hotel in the town when she went missing.

The inquiry is being run by Detective Superintendent David Swindle of Strathclyde Police, based in Glasgow.

He said: “Within three months we hope to answer a lot of questions as to what Tobin has or hasn't done.

“We are putting pieces of the puzzle together to look at his life and carry out an investigation into the analysis of a serial killer.”

At least three new witnesses are believed to have come forward with vital new information about Tobin's past.

Mrs Earl, from Eltham in London, said: “I don't think the police have ever stopped looking for Jessie's killer.

“We know so little about what happened to her and there are still so many questions unanswered.

“I am always glad when things like this happen because it shows the investigation has not gone away.

“The worst thing that could happen is that everybody forgets about it as if it never happened.

“I think the only way we will find out for sure is if Tobin chooses to say something.

“I gather he is not the sort of person to be very open when he is interviewed.

“There are nine families in the same position as us - maybe it will help one of them.

“If there are new witnesses they may have evidence that is relative to one of those cases, if not us.”

Sussex Police have always refused to disclose details of the investigation, codenamed Operation Anagram, into Tobin's possible links with other crimes.

A spokesman said: “We have never discussed that information and that remains the case.”