A builder accused of murdering his 15-year-old niece took topless photographs of two schoolgirls at his house, the jury at his trial heard on Monday.

The 16-year-olds also posed in St Trinians-style school uniforms and underwear while the photos were taken by Stuart Campbell, witness Jennifer Cairns told Chelmsford Crown Court.

Ms Cairns, formerly Stevens, said Mr Campbell had taken topless shots of her and friend Kelly Fuller at his house in East Tilbury, Essex, in June 1987.

Danielle Jones went missing in June last year

She said when a sheet wrapped around her fell down, Mr Campbell quickly took a photograph.

"He kept saying pull it down a bit more," Ms Cairns added.

She said she and Miss Fuller had not been together when the photos were taken.

Mr Campbell, 44, from Grays, Essex, denies the kidnap and murder of his niece Danielle Jones, 15, from East Tilbury.

Danielle was last seen walking to catch the bus to school on 18 June 2001.

Magazine claim

Ms Cairns said Mr Campbell had begun talking to them after they got off the school bus.

"He said he was a photographer and that he takes pictures and sends them off to magazines and that," she said.

The girls agreed to go to his house. She said she took underwear, sportswear and make-up and that dressing as girls from St Trinians was most likely to have been their idea.

Ms Fuller, the daughter of a policeman, said pictures were taken of her in a bedroom wearing underwear, stockings and suspenders.

Negatives destroyed

She said Mr Campbell, who was "very persuasive", had told them how to pose and make it look as though they were enjoying themselves.

She said they had been worried about refusing.

Ms Cairns said later she saw photo processing envelopes sticking out of Campbell's letterbox and took them.

Ms Fuller said they had destroyed the negatives and photos of themselves in underwear.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.