CONVICTED double murderer Peter Fell is six weeks away from freedom, his family and local MP claimed today.

Fell, released from jail in December after 17 years behind bars, has received confirmation that he will appear at the Court of Appeal in London on February 28.

His supporters hope the hearing, scheduled to last three days, will put right what they believe is a massive miscarriage of justice.

The former Great Harwood soldier and photographic salesman, whose mother Maureen is from Accrington, was just 23 when he was convicted of murdering Ann Lee, 44, the wife of a retired Army major, and Margaret "Peggy" Johnson, 65, the wife of a banking director on Aldershot Common.

He was given two life sentences at Winchester Crown Court on August 9 1984 but was freed on bail by the Court of Appeal in London before Christmas after prosecution lawyers admitted the conviction was unsafe.

Fell has been ordered by his solicitor James Nichol, who has worked on several high-profile appeals, not to talk to the Press before the hearing, asking him instead to concentrate on clearing his name. Mr Nichol said: "I have never met a man less likely to be a murderer."

Fell's brother Peter Davies, of Edgeside, Great Harwood, said: "We are very pleased that he has finally got a date to clear his name. It has been a long slog for him and although we haven't spoken to him since he got that date, we know he will be very pleased that the end is in sight.

"We can't be there on the day for him but we are offering him all the support he needs."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope has also campaigned for Fell's release. He said: "I have long been convinced of his innocence and that a terrible miscarriage of justice has taken place.

"Once his name is cleared there are many questions to be answered to make sure nothing like this happens again."