THE mothers of two best friends who were murdered 36 years ago aged just 11 are calling for justice to be done.

Police have reopened their inquiry into the murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller, from Whiston, who were found by a dog walker hidden under a mattress on the site of a disused colliery in Pottery Lane, Whiston, on August 16, 1980.

The school friends were taken from the area – now known as Stadt Moers Park – to Whiston Hospital, where John died the next day and Gary three days later. Both died as a result of head injuries.

Gary's mum Alma Miller, 81, has three sons, and is also now a grandmother and great-grandmother. She still lives in the house in Whiston where the family lived at the time of the tragedy.

She said she wants to see justice in her lifetime: “I haven't got very much longer left so I would like to see someone brought to justice to give me peace of mind.

“I hope to get some closure after all these years.”

John's mother Barbara Greenwood, 64, also still lives in same house and has three children, as well as grandchildren.

She told the Star: “This has deeply affected our lives – not just mine but my children's and their children's.

“To us, when children go out to play, they are not coming back. It stays with you. We all find it very hard to give children freedom.”

She is optimistic that the new inquiry will lead to justice for the boys.

She said: “This time we really think we are being listened to and we think we are going to get justice.

“It is very emotional bringing this all back to the surface again – but we want justice for Gary and John and now we have the police on board, we feel we are going to get somewhere.”

Barbara's daughter Deborah Lewis started a campaign on Facebook two months ago after being approached by a journalist from The Times who had been working on a story about unsolved crimes.

Deborah said: “The page – Justice for John and Gary - got about 2,000 followers in the first three weeks and now has well over 3,000.

“The response and support has been overwhelming – so many people still remember that day; it was such a devastating thing to happen in a small village.”

She added: “Anyone with significant information, we want you to come forward, it's a matter of conscience now.”

Following the incident John Cheeseman, from Prescot, was arrested and charged with the murder of both boys and was subsequently found not guilty of both murders following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

DC Spt Paul Richardson, from Merseyside Police said new information has emerged in the last month.

He said officers would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the boys on the afternoon of Saturday, August 16, 1980, and are interested in talking to anyone who may have been at, or near to, the rubbish tip on Pottery Lane.

He said they are particularly interested in talking to anyone who saw a man with three boys, aged between 12 and 14, near to the church hall on Dragon Lane, Whiston, between 6.45pm and 7.20pm on Saturday, August 16.

He said: “Two of the boys who were seen with the man were stood on the wall of the church hall and one was in the grounds of the church hall. Were you one of the three boys? If so please come forward and talk to us.”

Anyone with information can contact investigators on 0151 777 3100, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.