Ian Huntley was flanked by four police officers in court

However Ian Huntley, of Soham, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

He appeared at the Old Bailey in London with his former girlfriend Maxine Carr, together for the first time since their arrests.

Miss Carr, also of Soham, pleaded not guilty to two offences of helping an offender and a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The 10-year-old girls went missing on 4 August after being seen walking near their homes in Soham.

Their bodies were found two weeks later in a ditch near Lakenheath, Suffolk.

Holly and Jessica were best friends

Wearing a black suit, Miss Carr, the 26-year-old former teaching assistant, spoke only to enter the plea and confirm her name.

Neither she nor Mr Huntley, who was wearing a white shirt and grey tie and was flanked by four prison officers, looked at each other during their appearance.

Former school caretaker Mr Huntley, 29, had arrived in a police van with blacked out windows accompanied by two police cars.

The girls' parents were at the Old Bailey for the hearing.

Flanked by a large number of officers, Leslie and Sharon Chapman arrived at court, followed by Kevin and Nicola Wells.

Jessica's two sisters, Alison, 14, and Rebecca, 16, were also in court.

Mr and Mrs Wells looked intently towards the dock as Mr Huntley and Miss Carr entered their pleas.

The accused were remanded into custody after the hearing.