Double child killer Colin Pitchfork has been given a date to launch his bid for freedom.

Lawyers acting for Pitchfork – who has served 21 years for murdering two Leicestershire schoolgirls in the 1980s – have indicated they will argue for his immediate release at an appeal hearing on Thursday, April 30.

His victims' families have restated their desire that he should remain in prison for the rest of his life.

Pitchfork was the first killer in the UK to be convicted through use of DNA evidence.

He raped and murdered his first victim, 15-year-old Lynda Mann, of Narborough, in November 1983.

She had been sexually assaulted and strangled with her own scarf. She was found on land near Carlton Hayes Hospital, near Narborough.

Dawn Ashworth, also 15, from Enderby, was murdered in a similarly brutal fashion, also in Narborough, in July 1986.

Miss Mann's mother, Kath Eastwood, said: "My view is simple – he should never come out.

"Not only for what he did, but for the fear that he might do it again.

"This has hung over our family, and Dawn Ashworth's family, for a long time now.

"It's a horrible thing and it never goes away.

"I can't see why this should even go to an appeal.

"My wish is that he should never come out and I hope whoever makes this decision takes my feelings on board."

Speaking in December, Dawn's father, Robin Ashworth, said: "As well as the grief he has brought to his victims' families, I fear he could commit another crime and someone else may never see their daughter grow up, get married and have a family.

"Those who make the decision to allow Pitchfork his eventual release will have to shoulder the responsibility for any future crime."

Pitchfork, who lived in Littlethorpe, a few miles from his victims' homes, was given two life sentences at Leicester Crown Court in January 1988.

At the time, the judge was not required to impose a minimum sentence.

In 1994, the Home Office ruled he should serve a minimum of 30 years.

However, in December, Pitchfork (49) won permission for the right to appeal against the length of his sentence.

His lawyers argued that his 30-year minimum sentence should be cut to about 20 years.

They said eligibility for release would be "appropriate" and in line with similar cases.

Allowing the appeal, senior judges at the Court of Appeal said they held out "little hope" Pitchfork would succeed in winning a reduction in his sentence.