BBC north of England correspondent Kevin Bocquet on Hindley visits

Alan Bennett, 42, said he had only visited Hindley in the hope that she could help him find his brother's body.

His brother Keith was 12 when he was killed by Hindley and accomplice Ian Brady in 1964.

The pair said they buried the body on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester, but despite extensive searches it has never been found.

Mr Bennett said he had taken maps and photographs with him on the visits to Highpoint Prison in Suffolk to try to jog Hindley's memory.

Keith Bennett: Brother wants to find his remains

"It has been 12 years since we knew for certain what had happened to Keith," said Mr Bennett in a statement.

"During that time this family has tried to do all that could be done to bring Keith home to a proper burial.

"My visit to Myra Hindley was another step towards that.

"We needed to know her recollection of what happened on the night of Keith's disappearance in the hope that some other detail may have been remembered by her."

Victim's mother 'devastated'

He said he had taken a map of Saddleworth Moor and photographs taken by himself, together with another hand-drawn map of the area, where police have carried out a huge search for Keith's remains.

"She agreed to tell me all she could remember and did so," said Mr Bennett.

"That was the reason for the visit and there is nothing more to be added. I have been supported by my other brothers and sisters in this."

The Prison Service has confirmed that Mr Bennett has twice visited Hindley.

They met in a public area monitored by prison staff.

Keith and Alan Bennett's mother Winnie Johnson was reported to be devastated to hear of the secret visits, calling Hindley "evil, manipulative and very, very clever".

She told The Sun: "I can't believe what she is trying to do to my family.

"She's already robbed me of one son - now she's trying to deprive me of another."

Hindley was convicted with Ian Brady in 1966 of murdering Lesley-Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17.

She confessed to the killing of Keith Bennett in 1987.