A MEMBER of the search party at the time of the Babes in the Wood murders has told of her experience of looking for the girls.

Anita Smith, 73, who has lived in Newick Road for nearly 40 years, said she has never forgotten the day Karen and Nicola they were found.

She said: “When we were looking for the girls, my friend saw a patch of grass that was flattened like they had been lying here.

“I remember feeling like we were being watched and that’s when I saw Bishop sitting on the bank.

“I hope he suffers for what he did – they can throw away the key.”

Mrs Smith knew many people in the area, including Bishop, his parents and the girls’ parents.

“I remember when I was told that the girls had gone missing – that was a very bad day.

“There are still a few people still around from the time and it’s always been a dark cloud.

“At the time we all pulled together to try and find them and there was collections going around in the local pub.

“There were always whispers about Bishop but it wasn’t until he did what he did to that other girl – that’s when I knew.

“He has got away with it all this time.”

Mrs Smith said there was a handful of people from that time who still live in the street and once a year they join the girls’ families to lay flowers at the scene of their deaths.

She said: “People would gather there, looking for justice.

“Now it’s over.”

Asif Miah, 35, has been living on the street since he was three years old.

He said: “The man is evil for what he did.

“This has been going on for a long time but today is the end.”