THE families of the Babes in the Wood murder victims have paid tribute on the 31st anniversary of their deaths.

Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, both nine, were found dead in Wild Park, Brighton on October 10, 1986, after going missing the previous day.

More than 150 uniformed officers, 30 detectives, relatives and friends, joined the search for the girls in what was a huge national story.

But less than 24 hours after they disappeared, their bodies were discovered in the undergrowth at the park.

On the 31st anniversary of their’ deaths yesterday their families visited Wild Park to pay tribute.

Nicola’s uncle, Ian Heffron, said: “We get together to commemorate the girls, our message is still that we hope for justice for them.

“The gathering is so people can come along and take the chance to remember them.

“It’s now been 31 years. The bulk of us don’t live in Brighton so it’s a way to catch up, a chance to take a moment to remember the girls and say a little prayer when we get together.”

The families have previously planted two saplings in the park in memory of the girls. They have also had a memorial bench installed in the park.

Yesterday the families put up a trail of 31 pink ribbons leading past a memorial hawthorn tree, one for each year since the girls were killed.

They also flew two heart shaped balloons, attached a banner on the roadside of Lewes Road, and put up flyers in bus stops surrounding Wild Park with the words “We will never give up fighting, you will never be forgotten”.

The murder case remains unsolved, with the mystery surrounding their deaths still causing much anguish for the family.

Nicola’s father, Barrie Fellows, previously described their grief as “like someone wrenching my heart out and putting it back in the wrong way.”

Karen’s parents, Michelle Johnson and Lee Hadaway, were so distraught over their daughter’s death they decided they could no longer live in the house they had shared with their little girl.

They ended up moving away to Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.

Ms Johnson’s health suffered over the years as she tried to come to terms with what had happened.

Mr Hadaway died in September 1998. His family said he never got over the death of his daughter and died of a broken heart.

Karen’s mother told The Argus on the 25th anniversary of their deaths: “It will always be like it was yesterday. It will never be gone from my mind.”