GREAT Harwood man Peter Fell was this week dramatically cleared of a double murder after spending 17 years behind bars. Throughout his time in prison he wrote to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, always protesting his innocence. Reporter DAVID HIGGERSON looks back at some of those letters as Peter reveals how writing them helped him continue his fight for justice. PETER Fell today talked for the first time about life in prison - and the letter writing campaign that kept him sane.

Peter, 39, of Great Harwood, was cleared this week of the 1982 murders of Ann Lee and Margaret Johnson on Aldershot Common by the Court of Appeal.

Today, as he still savoured freedom for the first time since his 1984 conviction, Peter spoke to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about the support he received while behind bars.

Throughout his time in jail, he wrote to various Lancashire Evening Telegraph reporters speaking of his plans to prove his innocence, of his experiences inside and how he had discovered God.

He said today: "Being in prison is one of the worst feelings in the world.

"But being in prison for crimes you know you didn't commit is even worse.

"I found great comfort in writing to people like reporters as they were prepared to listen at a time when nobody else would and the prison service just wanted to forget about me."

The letters, which also chart Peter's stays in various prisons around the country, spoke of the support he was receiving from solicitors and from freedom group Liberty, who claimed his conviction was one of the most unsafe in the country.

But they also told of the struggle he had to get the wheels of justice turning again.

In one letter in February 1993, he thanked the paper for informing Greg Pope and Jack Straw of his plight and said: "I hope they take an interest."

Three months later, he opened his heart, saying: "My regret is that as I hardly know my family and because I have no friends outside jail, I have not been able to get a full campaign going."

Mr Pope has been one of Peter's staunchest supporters since. He also used the Telegraph to present his side of the case. The police claimed Peter killed one of the women because she looked like his mum, a family figure he had grown up to hate.

But Peter said in 1994: "I do not hate my mother at all. I never have done for as long as I can remember. I was just making my confession up. I don't know why."

Then, last year, when he received confirmation he was due to appear before appeal court judges to be granted bail pending an appeal, he said: "My concerns now are how I will adjust. How can I prepare."

Peter today added: "I would just like to thank everyone who has supported me all the way. The MP for Hyndburn, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, my family and the other people who have helped me.

"I will not forget their support."